IF THE GOVERNMENT of Liberia gets its way, it could soon be turning the revamping of the Roberts International Airport into the hands of one of the most rights abused and corrupt-ridden nations in Africa currently engulfed in a massive money laundering investigation.
A DELEGATION from Equatorial Guinea is due in Monrovia on Sunday to continue negotiations with the GOL regarding the revamping of the Roberts International Airport.
SOURCES HAVE INFORMED FPA that Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has reportedly expressed interests in helping his Liberian counterpart, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf leave a lasting legacy - at least in terms of some monumental project.
THE OIL-RICH African nation had previously expressed interests in investing in low-cost housing projects in Liberia but is said to now be having second thoughts after coming to the realization that Liberia has made modernization of the airport a priority.
ON SUNDAY, a technical team from Malabo is expected in the country to team up with its Liberia counterparts on the way forward. Sources tell FPA that US$160 million is in the offing for the entire project which will target critical areas including refurbishing of air navigational facilities, new a terminal building, a complete rehabilitation of the existing runway, modernizing of a fire fighting department and the Air Traffic Control Tower tot.
THE SUDDEN interests from Equatorial comes amid reports that Liberia's perennial stepfather, the United States of America has a standing interest in revamping the airport because of the strategic ties to Liberia. South Africa and the United Arab Emirates(UAE) are also said to have expressed interests in the airport.
THE INTEREST from Equatorial has caught many off guard amid questions about the timing of the potential deal.
WHILE EQUATORIAL is one of Africa's wealthiest nations following the discovery of large oil reserves in 1996 which boosted government revenue, the President Obiang and his family are being keenly monitored by both the United States of America and France.
IN 2012, French authorities issued an arrest warrant for Teodorin Nguema Obiang Mangue, son of the President, after he had failed to appear at a French money-laundering investigation in order to answer questions about how he managed to spend millions of dollars despite earning a modest government salary.
EQUALLY, the Obiang family have been under scrutiny by the United States which have been monitoring financial activities of the family for some time. The U.S. Department of Justice recently filed a lawsuit in a California court alleging massive money-laundering and listing. Key among the charges was Mangue's catalog of assets which includes a $35 million Malibu mansion -- a 1,400-sq-m sprawl off the Pacific Coast Highway with a four-hole golf course, tennis court and two swimming pools.
MANY POLITICALOBSERVERS are now wondering how the Liberian government came to the conclusion that Equatorial Guinea was the best solution to refurbish its dilapidated airport? Did the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advise the presidency properly? Did relevant government ministries and agencies including the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Airport Authority do the proper vetting and due diligence prior to advising the presidency to proceed with the deal?
MAKE NO MISTAKE, Equatorial Guinea has money. It is currently the third-largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its oil production has risen to 360,000 barrels per day (57,000 m3/d), up from 220,000 only two years earlier. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates.
EQUALLY SO, despite its massive wealth, the country has come under scrutiny over allegations that revenues for the country are being siphoned overseas in accounts of the president and his immediate family.
IN THE WAKE of an ongoing investigation by the governments of the U.S. and France, we find it inappropriate that the Liberian government will go ahead with a deal that could very well be financed by funds subject to international probe.
THE APPROPRIATE authorities must ensure that discussions centering on the RIA revamp take into consideration Liberia's history, its relations to its strategic partners and the likelihood that a rushed glitter on paper could come back to haunt us.
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The link between Liberia and Equatorial Guinea is oil and the Chevvon oil company that runs the business in that country and has secure the lion share of the Liberian market.Money for those in power and nothing for the people. Dictator Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo came to power in a coup in which he murdered his uncle who was the president at the time.Since then, inspite of all the oil money,the people live in poverty while he and his family and cronies live lavishly and save money abroad and do not want to give up power. He can built a state of art Airport for Liberia and will be doing his friend President Johnson-Sirleaf a favor with no strings attach. Birds of the same feathers......