Liberia access to contracts information group

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Comment by Cindy Kroon on July 26, 2010 at 15:38

Liberia: Freedom of Information Bill Passed *The moment the press of Liberia and ordinary citizens craved for solong berthed yesterday when members of the House of Representativesmoved to pass the Freedom of Information Bill which lingered in the corridors for almost two years. Congrats!(http://allafrica.com/stories/201007250009.html)

Comment by Menipakei Dumoe on July 24, 2010 at 4:25

Spot on Cindy. This shows you are ahead of me, I am waiting for more information on the deal before I present any opinion.

Comment by Cindy Kroon on July 23, 2010 at 21:10

Liberia: LPRC Signs Rewarding Contracts
22 July 2010
The Government of Liberia and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have committed themselves to what appears to be rewarding contracts through which their two oil companies, the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will collaborate effectively and meaningfully.
During the signing ceremonies which took place in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Liberian government was represented by Justice Minister, Cllr. Christina Tah and LPRC’s Managing Director T. Nelson Williams.
By the scope of the “purchase and sale contract” signed and entered into by the two nations, the LPRC is being provided the opportunity now to allocate 20,000 barrels per day of Nigeria cruel oil from the NNPC.
The news of the signing of the mouthwatering contract was revealed yesterday at a news conference attended by members of the LPRC Board in persons of Prof. Wilson Tarpeh as chairman, Cllr. David A.B. Jallah, Samuel P. Jackson, William Smith as well as Justice Minister Cllr. Christina Tah.
The contract which is expected to last for a period of twelve calendar months, according to the management of the LPRC, is also renewable for an additional period of twelve calendar months upon negotiations between the LPRC and NNPC.
The contract brings with it huge revenue benefits to the Liberian government which in return will be used for other construction projects.
“This manifestation of assistance will enable the government of Liberia to accrue about US$120,000 per month, an amount that will be used for national reconstruction projects,” a prepared statement read by the Managing Director Williams revealed.
Most importantly, owing to the fact that the LPRC does not have refinery facilities, it has signed what it calls “Management Service Contract (MSC)” on the same day it signed the contract with Nigerian Government with the Sahara Energy Resource, Ltd.
As for the terms of reference agreed between the MSC and the Sahara Energy Resource Ltd, the company will have oversight in the managing the operations, logistics and arrangements for lifting the oil, including programming, loading, transportation and trading of the cruel oil.
Sahara is an international oil trading company conducting business in several countries around the world. Sahara is currently involved in similar arrangements in several West African nations.
According to the LPRC, Sahara shall be responsible to provide a monthly report to the LPRC on allocation from the NNPC.
The process that following awarding Sahara the contract, the LPRC said, met all of the requirements.
MD Williams said four companies bided for the contract out of which Sahara was declared winner based on its rich credentials, as confirmed by authorities of other countries in which the company has assets.
At the same time, while responding to inquiries as to whether the new contract is an extension of the one signed by his predecessor, the LPRC boss said the contract in question, so far, is independent, and has nothing to do with the controversial contract Mr. Harry Greaves, former Managing Director signed two years ago.
Relishing the contract as major breakthrough, the LPRC management said the signing is a goodwill of the government of Nigeria, as Liberia or the LPRC will not pay a dime, whatsoever, for the lifting of the oil.
At the same time, the LPRC management said efforts are underway to embark on it robust rehabilitation work in order to return the entity to its pre-war status.

Comment by Menipakei Dumoe on June 29, 2010 at 17:13

Cari Votava- it is refreshing to hear that someone with your expertise is interested in Liberia. I am very interested in what you are trying to do and I think we can collaborate in ensuring that public officials pay attention! If you are in Liberia, give me a call: 06 84 15 82 and lets talk further.

Comment by cari votava on June 29, 2010 at 16:49

Menipakei - I am interested in this area. I am a financial sector specialist (and lawyer) who provides technical assistance to countries in the area of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). I have worked for 4 years in Central Asia and now work on pjts in West Africa (Liberia & Sierra Leone). I don't exactly have ideas for informing citizens about mining and oil contracts, but I do have ideas for simple and cheap preventative measures which would improve granting of 'critical' licenses and concessions (extractives & natural resources) to those who are known criminals or connected with criminal activity. This requires creating simple and cheap procedures for ministries/agencies who grant critical concessions/licenses to have a law enforcement body conduct background check-type screenings on those who are shortlisted candidates for concessions/licenses. I have raised this issue in discussions with officials in Monrovia & Freetown, but am not getting traction yet. I don't think there is much attention to the granting of licenses/concessions, and in particularly, keeping them out of the hands of criminals and their associates.

Comment by Menipakei Dumoe on June 29, 2010 at 14:29

The more the public in Liberia knows about minning and oil contracts, the higher the chances good resource governance.