Liberia Lotteries in Crisis, As "Fassue Kelleh Leaves with clean hands"

The Liberia National Lotteries Incorporated which was established by an Act of the National Legislature in 1982 with the sole purpose of financing welfare institutions, especially the disabled and old-folks homes and create jobs for those who are incapacity is said to be falling apart followed the resignation of its Managing Director.

According to report, Mr. Fassue Kelleh has taken his exist from the agency following countless efforts for its revival failed – the inability for the Liberian Government to play its part as a result of previous administrations miss-application of trusted funds from the agency’s coffer.

Mr. Fassue Kelleh former Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA) was last year appointed as Managing Director of the Liberian National lotteries by the Liberian leader, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf due to his high profile administrative skills, a position he accepted to return home from the United States of America where according to report he secured a job as a banker.

According to sources, Mr. Fassue left the agency due to what he called the lack of support from the Liberian Government to up keep the institution in good shape and settle delinquents who have played this game over the years.

Recently an employee, Jallah Mendscoe, Marketing Manager of the Liberia National Lotteries in a recent news conference accused his former boss (Fassue Kelleh) of impropriety and miss-management of the agency’s funds, Mr. Mendscole also blamed Mr. Kelleh of draining down financially the Liberia National Lotteries.

This allegation leveled against the former Managing Director of the agency by Mendscole seems not to go down too well with some employees of the agency who described the allegation as” mare fallacy and deformation of Mr. Kelleh’s well earned reputation built over the years.

Also reacting to the allegation, sources closed to the Vice President of Liberia, who is also Chief Patron of the agency, said the allegation leveled against Mr. Kelleh by Mendscole and others has no iota of truth, and lack basic facts to spoil the good character of Mr. Kelleh, who the source described him as a fine gentleman who also mean serious business to sever his country.

“The resignation of Fassue should not be considered as been corrupt, but rather due to the lack of the needy support from the government to uphold the agency’s responsibility to those clients whose payments seems to come forth,” the sources at the Vice President’s office told our reporter.

According to an investigation been conducted by reporters, prior to the departure of Mr. Kelleh from the Liberia National Lotteries as Managing Director, a “Proposed Recovery Project & Action Plan and Prospect for Survival & Growth” of the agency was submitted last July to the Liberian leader, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, stressing, “that the Liberian National Lotteries’ current debts and payable due the various banking institutions, operations cost, winners unpaid awards and balances astronomically shamefully and unbelievably now stand at L$40,663,916.57, or over US$790,000.00.”

Stating further in the report, Mr. Fassue said, “the Liberia National Lotteries sales has immeasurably decreased over the years. In 2004 for instance, each of the bi-weekly draw stood at over LD$200,000.00 – average. Sales have started dipping in 2004 when each draw barely reached LD$170,000.00 and players declined to below 12,000 customers only per draw”.

In the same token, the former Managing Director in a drive to revamp the agency last December (2006) in a communication to the Director General of the National Social Security & Welfare Corporation, Mr. Francis Carbah, said, “the Liberia National Lotteries Incorporated currently stands in dire financially loan to enable management revamp the operations by first paying off liabilities to its customers of over $100,000.00 or L$5.6 million’.

With all of these strives by the former Managing Director of the agency to improve the Lotteries of the nation, several individuals who spoke to this writer have taken exception to Mr. Mendscole’s allegation against the man he said is a credible Liberian.
Investigation continues.

Senator Prince Y. Johnson Tours Mali, Senegal

Former rebel commander of defunct Independence National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) now Senior Nimba lawmaker, Senator Prince Johnson leaves the country this week for Bamako and Dakar, capital cities of Mali and Senegal, respectively, as guest of Medi-Lab, an International medical group based in Germany with seven offices in West Africa and Luxemburg.
The ECOWAS parliamentarian will be away for one week and while in the Malian capital, is expected to hold talks with officials of Medi-Lab including some investors, who may wish to invest in Liberia.
According to the office of the Nimba senior senator, his trip to those countries comes in the wake of invitation extended to him in January, 2007, but which he put on hold while he was undergoing medical treatment in a local hospital.
Information gathered from Senator Johnson’s office indicates that his doctor has advised him to move freely at this time. The information further say, he will depart the Robert International Airport this week for the visit to Mali and Senegal purposely to meet and discuss with the investors on the best way to establish a pharmaceutical industry in war torn Liberia.
When contacted, the Chairman of the Upper House’s standing committee on National Security, Prince Y. Johnson told our reporter that he would use the occasion to meet with members of the ECOWAS Parliament from both Mali and Senegal in their respective countries to discuss peace and reconciliation in the region.
The Senator also pointed out that while he is away for one week, his office will remain open for people from his constituency and for any other individuals. The Senator is expected to return to Liberia this weekend.

Willis Knuckles Finally Resigns, As President Sirleaf Expresses Regret, Calls for Immediate Prosecution of all Officials

The Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Willis Knuckles who was involved in widely publicized pornographic sex scandal yesterday tendered in his resignation to the Liberian leader, but many Liberians described the latest report as be littled.
Addressing the Nation by radio late yesterday evening at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, now Presidential Office, said she received a letter of resignation from her “able and respected Minister” of State for Presidential Affairs, Knuckles yesterday.
She expressed regret for this latest action on the part of the Minister, but said she will uphold the rule of law in the country, and promised to protect the moral value of the Liberian people.
Speaking further, the Liberian leader admitted that "Corruption is still rampant in government," in her thirteen months old government, but however assured the people of Liberia that she would ‘ruthlessly’ deal with it.
The President in a serious note said she would achieve this by prosecuting those involved in corruption in her Government and former administration.
The issue of Knuckles’ widespread sex scandal has created serious among Liberians and even those in the diasporas for what they described as “bringing disgrace to the civilized people of Liberia.
Following the much series of publicities on the issue, several groups including the Press Union of Liberia, students, human rights, church related organizations and even the ordinary Liberian called for the immediate dismissal of Minister Knuckles.
In a related development, the former NTGL Chairman, Gyude Bryant has been found guilty on corrupt charges and is expected to shortly face prosecution.According a local radio station quoting Justice Ministry sources, the former Transitional Chairman will be prosecuted after been found guilty.