The United States Ambassador to Liberia, Michael A. McCarthy, did not mince his words to denounce the management of certain health and civil status establishments to which public funds are not transferred.
In a statement posted on the embassy website, McCarthy said he was “unfortunately, (…) surprised and deeply disturbed to visit several hospitals that have not received a penny of what they were promised in the budget voted in 2022”.
“The hospitals on which lives depend, where epidemics are averted and suffering alleviated, have not received any part of the US$100,000 or more allocated by the legislator for their operation,” he laments.
The diplomat wondered how to trust the authorities concerned if they fail to manage effectively smaller sums compared to possible promises from partners.
« If the government fails to disburse statutory appropriations of only US$100,000 to existing hospitals, why would we trust annual pledges of US$3 million for the future laboratory? » .
The US government had pledged, recalled the ambassador, to contribute to the financing of the construction of an ultramodern national laboratory, to the tune of 40 million dollars.
McCarthy also attacked the management of civil status centers. “I also visited civil status centers some of which have not received any part of their budget allocation” which amounts to more than 13,000 dollars, he declared, stressing that “a center registrar has not provided marriage certificates for four years because the printer broke down and their last allowance was received five years ago”.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1150 of 04/27/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
