Confusion has erupted over the exact amount of legislative funds allocated to lawmakers, with contradictory statements from several representatives fueling public concern about transparency and accountability.
Grand Bassa County Representatives Matthew Joe and Thomas Goshua recently told citizens that each lawmaker had received US$37,000 from the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE) for legislative projects. Montserrado County District #8 lawmaker Prince Toles also publicly confirmed the same figure.
But Representative Frank Saah Foko strongly disagrees, insisting that lawmakers were actually allotted US$50,000, not US$37,000 as claimed by his colleagues.
“First, let the public know the truth,” Foko said. “The Legislative Fund is not US$37,000 as my corrupt colleague Prince Toles falsely parades, but US$50,000 as allotted in the National Budget.”
The conflicting figures have unsettled citizens in Grand Bassa and across the country, with many demanding clarity on how much was received and how the money is being used.
Civil society groups and community advocates are now pressing lawmakers to release official documentation and detailed reports to verify the actual amount and ensure accountability.
The dispute places mounting pressure on Reps. Joe, Goshua, and Toles to clarify their statements and address the discrepancy. At the same time, it underscores persistent concerns about the management and oversight of public funds in Liberia’s legislature.
