Monrovia-The Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia Nathaniel Patray has clarified that there is no money missing.
Report by Nyantee Togba_nyanteetogba@gmail.com
In spite of the latest revelation by the CBL, it was reported that 16 billion Liberian dollars had gone missing which necessitated a mass protest home and abroad.
According to Governor Patray, it has been erroneously reported in the media regarding the disappearance of 16 billion Liberian dollars.
Addressing a news conference in Monrovia on Tuesday, October 2,2018, the Central Bank Governor said records in the possession of his institution revealed that the total of 15.5 billion Liberian Dollars was printed and placed in the reserve vaults of the bank from the period of 2016-2018.
He stated that Crane currency of Sweden which printed the money delivered 15.5 billion Liberian Dollars through the Freeport of Monrovia and the Robert International Airport between 2016 and 2018.
“CBL clarified to the general public and partner in progress that there is no L$16 billion missing. The CBL has no records showing that the monies printed under its authority have not yet been delivered into its reserved vaults. Record from the Crane Currency of and Sweden, which was contracted to print the money, shows that Crane delivered 15.5 billion through Freeport and Roberts International Airport (RIA) between 2016 and 2018 and that all these monies were logged by the CBL and delivered into the reserved vaults of the CBL.”
Governor Nathaniel Patray however stated that his institution welcomes the inclusion of credible institutions to form part of the investigation process.
“I confirm that all employees of the bank are committed to cooperating fully with the investigation and will continue to make themselves available to the special investigation team whenever they are called upon,” he added.
The CBL Boss at the same time requested that the Government of Liberia lifts all travel restrictions placed on the some staffers of the CBL.
Report says the Press Conference addressed by the CBL Governor was restricted thus preventing journalists from asking questions.
The Governor’s statement follows a similar tone ranted by President Weah Sunday, September 30, upon his return from the United Nations General Assembly that he did not believe any money was missing.
Governor Patray’s revelation Tuesday contradicts an earlier statement from the government’s chief spokesman Nagbe who revealed in an interview with the VOA Daybreak Africa that the current President was kept in the dark by ex-President Sirleaf concerning the alleged “missing” L$16 billion.
Minister Nagbe told the VOA that the President was never kept appraised about the new banknotes during the transitional period.
“…One would have thought that this new President would have been informed about all of these transactions during the transition notes that were presented to him during the transition meeting but he was not aware,” Nagbe disclosed.
The Information Minister went on to confirm the printing of “moneys” in several countries. “We can confirm that the money was brought through the Freeport of Liberia and the Roberts International Airport and for now it is L$16 billion that we have confirmed. An estimate of a little over 15 billion Liberian dollars as far as we are concerned from the ongoing investigation as of today, it came through the two ports of entry.”
