By: S.Winston Blyden
IPNews-Monrovia: After months speculation surrounding a purported printing of new Liberia 100 bank notes which circulated social media, and subsequent denial by the government of Liberia that it had plans to printing new bank notes, the Liberia President George Weah is now requesting the plenary of the Liberian House of Representatives for permission to print new currency in the tone of thirty-Five billion Liberian dollars
The president’s request was contained in a communication presented to the House of Representatives and read at its plenary session on yesterday Wednesday. September 11, 2019.
President Weah’s communication comes as a result of consensus document adopted by stakeholders at the recent ‘national Economic dialogue’, held in Congo town, which among other things, calls for the printing of new currency aimed at resuscitating the Liberian economy.
However, sources in the corridors of House of Representatives hinted that the House deferred further discussion on the matter until coming week.
It may be recalled a major scandal rocked the government of Liberia in 2018, when 16 billion when missing leading to the arrest and investigation of by the government to finding the individuals linked to the disappearance, but the government soon requested it oldest traditional ally to assist it in finding the missing money.
Within weeks, the United States Embassy near Monrovia, reported that it had accepted the request and has hired an international auditing firm ‘Kroll’, to conduct the forensic audit.
Kroll after months of investigation, Kroll reported that there was ‘no Money’, missing but a coordinated undocumented procedures at the Liberian treasury-Central Bank of Liberia.
Now, it remains unclear as to whether the new bank notes requested indeed are the same which flowed social media four months ago.
In recent weeks, four persons charged by the government of Liberia for Money laundering and economic sabotage, including the son of former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf pleaded not guilty and are set to face full judicial trail. Investigation continues
