Instead of focusing on developing policies and implementing procedures to stem out this inhumane practice African regimes through their leaders have behaved indifferent to the conditions of their subjects, particularly the masses, and have siphoned millions in offshore bank accounts for themselves and their families while the people die of common preventable diseases. Many of these rulers, using the wealth of the nations illegally, have invested millions in elaborate mansions in foreign lands housing their families while their peoples live in squalor; their children attend top notch schools for the privileged in the West, while learning institutions in their countries are still struggling with archaic syllabuses, outdated resource editions and utilizing orthodox laboratory instruments! 

attention has been focused on creating the requisite safeguards and processes in some African societies, particularly those that are now exiting from war. Liberia now finds itself in such category as manifested in the establishment of internal institutions like its Governance Reform Commission mandated to develop policies that would affect governance and transparency, the Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program (GEMAP) structured through international efforts to ensure that resources of the country are properly accounted for, managed and utilized through processes that are transparent, and the selection of an Auditor General of Liberia by the European Union with the acquiescence and approval of the President of Liberia. 

The establishment of these benchmarks necessary for addressing a problem which seems intractable in Liberia can be deem as the first step in a long journey. What seems important also is the commitment to ensuring that the processes established under these initiatives are followed to the letter. For in the event there seems to be a compromise of any of the instituted guidelines necessary for transparency, Liberia runs the risk of heading down the same streets of the past. Such compromises can be manifested in many forms and may be viewed by those in leadership roles as a worthy cause in the interests of the people or the institution they represent. However, that there is a dereliction in the face of growing efforts to curb those practices that led to chaos in the society, and a predisposition to accept such practice must be brought to the attention of the governed.  

An unembellished sense of dereliction, doused in a pseudo concept of utilitarianism   seems to be what is affecting the new Liberia under the leadership of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Case in point, the Report of the Panel of Experts submitted pursuant to paragraph 5 of Security Council Resolution 1689 (2006) concerning Liberia. This Report provides insight on a number of issues that now affect Liberia, some of which if left unattended could water the seeds of corruption. Particular attention is paid to the section captioned: Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC).  While many Liberians would laud the efforts of the current management of the company, in comparison to the previous management, for working relentlessly to transform the financial mishap and corruption that seemed to be the order of the day, the refusal of this management headed by Harry Greaves to heed to those guidelines specified under GEMAP in the implementation of transactions that would generate resources for Liberia, leaves many to ponder whether personal relationships in this government is the result of dereliction?  

Greaves has been one of the key players in the initial process that led up to the establishment of GEMAP and the processes that followed, and was also a member of a financial commission that scrutinized requests for funding during the past interim administration. His involvement in these matters, one would conclude, makes him aware of the processes required for awarding contracts. There should be no excuse from him when it comes to following those guidelines. On the contrary, Greaves has demonstrated total disregard for these guidelines and, holding to the letter of this Report, made numerous conflicting stories on the Liberian-Nigerian oil deal as evidenced in minutes from Board meetings that bring into question his character. What comes out of someone’s mouth determines significantly who that person is. Soon enough Liberians would see through the real Harry Greaves!! 

Another individual mentioned in this report happens to be a Liberian businessman, Musa Bility. Involved in the importation and sale of petroleum products, Bility’s companies, SRIMEX and Gulf Trading, have been able to lift products from LPRC storage although having a backlog of unpaid taxes amounting to $3 million. The issues then become whether Bility’s free pass in lifting products despite his deep indebtedness to government is with the acquiescence of higher-ups in government. For his part, Greaves only excuse is, and which appears cynical, “that the LPRC is not the collector of taxes and has not received instructions on collecting taxes before lifting products.” This is hogwash! Greaves is fully aware that evading taxes is illegal. In the real world, and Greaves can attest as he worked in the West, taxes is prioritized before any legal transaction is complete, especially in the United States. Bility would not have a business if he could not pay his taxes, and perhaps would be without a shirt on his back after he’s done with the IRS!  

What is also ironic is that Bility happens to be the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Port Authority, an entity that collects government taxes on all commodities that pass through the ports of Liberia. That he is able to evade taxes and have struggling Liberian business entrepreneurs pay taxes to government while his is in back log and unpaid, and his business operates smoothly is double standard!! Liberia relies on taxes collected and to have a businessman violate the laws on taxes while his entity operates unhindered as he serves as head of the board of a public corporation, equates to George Orwells’ Animal Farm! And this does not augur well for this government that portends to be committed to accountability and transparency. It however reveals the level of consideration put into President Johnson-Sirleaf’s refusal to appoint Bility as head of the LPRC; and perhaps even go further to expose the abuse of power and conflict of interest that still manifests itself in his service on the Port Authority board. 

In spite of these violations, the Executive seems mute. The only indication that emanates from this level of silence reveals favoritism in government, particularly from the Executive, allowing the creation and entrenchment of a new privileged class. What is scary about this is that such action then breeds another group of disgruntled Liberians that would view themselves as underprivileged and rise up to initiate another cycle of violence in Liberia. Upholding the letter of the law and following the carved out policies that engender transparency would only eliminate any reversal to conditions that led to the violence and destruction that engulfed Liberia two decades ago. Greaves must provide exhaustive clarification to the people of Liberia through their elected representatives and be reprimanded if necessary by the Executive for his blatant failure to followed standard procedures, as well as his eerie tendency of falsehood that now beclouds his character. Bility on the other has demonstrated a glaring profundity of how the shrouded black market economy ran under Taylor and Bryant and has been placed in the requisite position to utilize the tools of that economy in the glare, seemingly with the nod of higher-ups. 

This was not what was promised to the Liberian people in 2006, neither was it the expectation of the people that there would be a group of individuals who would exclusively have the ears of the leader to the extent that they would be able to meander their way through established guidelines. The hands such actions have dealt in Liberia have not always been good, and have been the basis for conflict. No Liberian wants to go back to the days when violence and warlordism were the order of the day, but there must be an unambiguous resolve to curb any outgrowth that would shift the society in the reverse gear towards a gradual decline to the obvious – chaos. 

In all the issues are as follows: Being fully aware of the procedures and guidelines laid down to award contracts or whatever nomenclature Greaves applies to the LPRC-Addax transaction, why would the managing director select to circumvent these guidelines and for what purpose? Even as he raises the issue of time, was there any documented time limitation that accompanied such goodwill by the Nigerians? Also, what are the circumstances surrounding price-fixing under this deal that are being denied any sunshine? On the other hand, what is the standard procedure of lifting products from LPRC storage facilities? Are all of the importers of petroleum products lifting their commodities without paying their taxes or do all of these entities have a back log of taxes due government? Is the LPRC only collecting storage charges due it, without any consideration or verification of taxes due government?