A local weekly, the Independent Newspaper has been mortgaged reportedly to an Arabs firm for period of ten years, the paper quoting a credible source within the ruling CDC-led by President George Weah, described as a ‘Secret Deal’ without public participation, such news has reportedly taken many Liberians by surprise.
According to sources close to the media, also gathered that recently a high-power delegation of the United States Coast Guard and the port Security Experts visited the Freeport of Monrovia and further inspected the facilities at the NPA.
According to some International media reports, a firm from the United Arabs Emirates, identified as Medtech Scientific Ltd, has reportedly been awarded a 10-year service contract. According to the report, on June 16, 2021, an international corporate outlet, SHARECAST NEWS, reported that a UK-based Westminister disclosed that following a “lengthy” evaluation process, a contract had been awarded by the Liberian Government to a consortium led by Medtech Scientific Ltd from the United Arab Emirates, which in turn, had entered into a contract with Westminister to provide port screening services for an initial period of 10 years from July 1, 2921.
This initial period could be extended by mutual agreement, the report added. Although the monetary value of the reported deal remains unknown and public participation is in transit, the firm claimed that following Liberia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and as part of the broader in-country policy of boosting trade and making the export and import of goods easier, the country’s government undertook a competitive tender process build capacity under a long term (BOT) arrangement, by investing in and upgrading various services at the Freeport of Monrovia.
When the head of the National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), Atty. Edwin Dennis was contacted by journalists noted that his Bureau is not aware of awarding said contract by the Liberian Government to a foreign company based in the UAE, Medtech Scientific Ltd, to fully operate the Freeport of Monrovia.
SHARECAST also reported that under the agreement, a sub-contractor, Westminister, a UK-based consortium hired by Medtech will provide the screening systems, warehousing and infrastructure to undertake screening and intrusive of selected import containers, maintain and operate the systems and provide “comprehensive” training services to customers and other staff through the contract’s term.
But the NBC boss wondered how the agreement was reached without the notice of his institution. He also added that as required by law, the NBC is clothed with the authority to be involved in the making of every concession agreement in the country. Atty. Dennis also told journalists that his institution will lead an effort to sit with the management of the National Port Authority (NPA) to ascertain the root cause of the agreement.
However, when this outlet contacted the Managing Director of the NPA, Mr. Bill Tweaway, via mobile phone for comment on the reported 10 –year deal involving the Arab firm and the Liberian Government, his phone echoed several times without any response.
Investigation Continues
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