Liberian senator blames graft for scaring potential investors

BONG County Senator Dr Henrique Flomo Tokpah says Liberia is not favourable for investors and companies because of corruption. Speaking on a talk show in Gbarnga, Bong County recently, Senator Tokpah said rampant corruption is eating up the fabric of the Liberian society and scaring investors away from doing business with the country.

The senator was referring to a declaration he made during the 2018 by-election about a then ongoing negotiation he was involved in with a fishery and a juice company that intended to do business in Bong County. He said until leaders in the private and public sectors exhibit transparency and accountability, the country will keep lagging behind.

Tokpa had earlier told citizens that the companies could not come to Liberia because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But it seems as though the senator is now blaming his failure to influence the companies to invest in the county on corruption, leaving doubt in the minds of many as to whether or not the senator made negotiations with the companies.

However, some of the citizens, especially talk show participants, are calling on the lawmaker to fulfil the promise he made and stop blaming his “failure” on the government.

“When did he know that corruption is in the country? Is he telling us that Liberia was not corrupt before he became senator? There is something that the senator needs to understand and that is, he has failed us who elected him,” said Johnson Farr, one of the callers.

“The senator has failed, now that he has lost what to say, he is telling us that the country is corrupt, that’s why the companies cannot come,” Johnson added.

Nancy Tokpah, one of the callers, believes that it was Dr Tokpah’s way of winning the minds of the voters, adding: “Every time, our leaders have different thing to tell us before election and different thing to say after election.”

Nancy said Dr Tokpah wantes to find favour with voters because of the 2023 election that is pending.