Liberia's Information Minister Lewis Brown has commented on the appointment of Danish Journalist Mads Johan Brygger Cortzen as honorary consul general for Liberia, saying the only authentic document Cortzen received from the Government of Liberia was his commission by President Sirleaf in July 2011 to represent the country to the Central African Republic or C.A.R.
Cortzen obtained his diplomatic status from the Liberian authorities, while working as an undercover journalist here, filming a documentary on corruption in African governments. The production, titled 'The Diplomat' subsequently portrayed the Sirleaf Administration as corrupt after he allegedly bribed his way through the government bureaucracy.
Brown admitted that the process put in place for vetting applicants for Honorary Consuls and other honorary title holders is not perfect, thus government will continue to improve the system.
He recalled that in 2007, over 100 honorary consuls appointed by faction leaders during the civil war and later inherited by the present administration were suspended.
Following weeks of intense controversies over Cortzen's claims of purchasing the Liberian Diplomatic Passport at US$150,000.00, government's investigation here claims Cortzen's diplomatic passport was forged and his title as Ambassador-At-Large bogus.
The Information Minister told a news conference Thursday that Cortzen's appointment as Honorary Consul was effected July 2011, while is diplomatic passport is dated September 2010 with the title Ambassador-At-Large, emphasizing "this government never appointed him as Ambassador-At-Large."
Brown however contradicted himself at the ministry's regular press briefing when he argued the authorities adhered to vetting procedure that led to Cortzen's appointment, noting no official misconduct occurred in the process.
He described Cortzen "an admitted and dedicated fraudster", who simply slipped through the "crack", using several aliases and pseudonyms, and succeeded in securing Danish Police clearance.
The MICAT boss said with those alleged bogus instruments, Cortzen passed rigorous background checks by the National Security Agency (NSA) and international network to achieve his objective.
Brown: "Indications are that Mr. Cortzen, the Danish Journalist, whose credo seems to be the ends justifying the means, may have made the sensational claim of spending US$150,000.00 to purchase Liberian Diplomatic Passport and titles as a stunt to gain international publicity for his film."
Meanwhile, the Liberian Government has reaffirmed its fullest confidence in former Foreign Minister Dr. Toga Gyewea McIntosh, currently an ECOWAS Vice President under whose tenure as minister, Cortzen claimed to have bought the title.
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As the money they received from the journalist was divided among the government officials, I am not surprised that the government is once again whitewashing their corrupt acts. This Ellen government is rotten to the core and hte international community does not seem to care because she is a woman. We need a Liberia spring or we will have nothing left in the years ot come.
What happened to the money the journalist gave? Why can Varney Sherman not account for the withdrawal that he said he gave the man back his money? Who is in the background of the video saying that "the President herself will put a gown on you." A country of rogues and thieves, supported by the US and the UN. Who says a woman leader cannot steal as much as a man?
Mr Brown, The more you speak about this situation the more questions you raised. Even if the diplomatic passport was forged as you claim how did he get it in the first place? How did Mr Cortzen end up taking a photo with our foreign Minister? Why was Varney Sherman handling any form of money? Do applicants for counsel general normally have to give money for escrow as Mr. Sherman claim? It is sad to see that instead of our government holding people accountable they have spend resources trying to discredit Mr Cortzen for exposing a problem. Guys come on we need to fix this country and this is not the way to go.
MY FELLOW LIBERIANS, IF WE SHOULD RETROSPECT ON THE BRILLIANT AND SOUND PROPHECY RELATIVE TO THE THREE GOVERNMENTS MADE BY THE LATE REV. MOTHER WILLIAMENA DUKULAY OF THE FAITH HEALING TEMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, DURING THE INCUMBENCY OF THE LATE PRESIDENT SAMUEL K. DOE, YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT THAT PROPHECY IS GAINING FRUITION. ACCORDING TO THE LATE REV. MOTHER, THREE GOVERNMENTS WILL COME TO FORE. THE FIRST GOVERNMENT WILL EMERGED AFTER A BRUTAL CIVIL WAR. THIS GOVERNMENT, ALTHOUGH VERY POPULAR, WITH GOOD INTENTS FOR ITS PEOPLE; WILL BE UNPOPULAR WITH AND SUPPRESSED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THE SECOND GOVERNMENT WILL BREED A LEADERSHIP THAT WILL LOOT THE COUNTRY'S RESOURCES TO IMMENSELY AMASS WEALTH FOR THEY AND THEIR SIBLINGS. THE THIRD AND FINAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE A LEADERSHIP THAT IS NOT ONLY GOD FEARING BUT ALSO PEOPLE'S CENTERED AND IT IS THIS GOVERNMENT TO COME THAT THE NATION WILL REALIZE/ENVISAGE DEVELOPMENT TO ITS FULLEST. THAT REVELATION IS A CLEAR PICTURE OF UNFOLDING EVENTS IN TODAY'S LIBERIA.