By By: Staff Writer
Monrovia, Liberia – The Civil Society Working Group of Liberia has come to the defense of the Ministry of Agriculture, saying corruption allegations made by Nimba County District #5 Representative Kortor S. Kwagrue are based on misinformation and a misunderstanding of basic procurement math.
Speaking through its Executive Director James Alpha Momo, the Group said it found the lawmaker’s recent public statements disappointing, especially coming from a legislator expected to understand the functions of government institutions.
While the Group said it fully supports legislative oversight as a tool for accountability, it stressed that oversight must be exercised with accuracy and fairness.
Ministry Mandate Misunderstood
James Alpha Momo said Rep. Kwagrue’s repeated questions about the location of the Ministry’s farms show a lack of understanding of the Ministry’s mandate.
He clarified that the Ministry of Agriculture is not established to own and operate farms, but to formulate policies, provide extension services, support farmers and cooperatives, facilitate access to seeds, fertilizers and inputs, promote mechanization and strengthen value chains.
“The Ministry supports farmers to produce food; it is not necessarily responsible for producing the food itself,” Momo said, adding that a lawmaker who approves national budgets should know the difference.
$930 Not $1,000 Per Cow; $38 Not $760 Per Bag
The Working Group took issue with three major allegations.
On the claim that the Ministry bought 200 old cattle at US$1,000 each, the Group said records show the actual cost is US$930 per animal, totaling US$186,000, for young cows and bulls fit for breeding imported and transported to Grand Kru County.
On fertilizer, Momo described Rep. Kwagrue’s claim as “diabolical misinformation.” The lawmaker alleged the Ministry bought one bag of NPK 15-15-15 for US$760 and Urea for US$700.
The Group clarified that US$760 and US$700 are prices per metric ton, not per 50kg bag. Since one ton equals twenty 50kg bags, the actual price per bag is US$38 for NPK and US$35 for Urea.
“Confusing US$760 per metric ton with US$760 per bag is not evidence of corruption; it demonstrates a failure to properly interpret basic procurement information,” Momo noted.
The Group also dismissed claims that the Ministry is rebagging imported rice as locally produced, stating the Ministry works with five verified local suppliers including Mohamed Kamara, producer of Foya Queen rice from Foya, Lofa County.
No Cooperatives For Officials
On allegations that senior management created cooperatives through relatives to divert resources, the Civil Society Working Group said there is no evidence to support the claim.
“No member of top management has established a cooperative for the alleged purpose, and no agricultural support has been directed to the personal farms of senior management officials,” Momo said.
He added that some officials were farmers long before joining government and that does not automatically amount to conflict of interest.
The Group challenged Rep. Kwagrue to use proper legislative channels if he has credible evidence, including writing to the Plenary to summon the Ministry to present contracts, payment details and distribution reports, rather than engaging in public accusations.
Momo warned that the House of Representatives should be an institution of accountability, not a platform for unverified accusations, and questioned whether the lawmaker is being misled by individuals pursuing personal interests.
He concluded that the Ministry should be assessed on its policies, procurement integrity and measurable support to farmers, not on the assumption that it must own farms across the country, noting that Liberia’s agricultural transformation is too important to be distracted by political controversies.
