A war of words has erupted between Liberia’s Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) and The Liberian Investigator newspaper over a controversial report alleging a lack of transparency in the government’s acquisition of yellow machines.
The dispute began when the newspaper published a front-page story on Friday, April 18, headlined “PPC Disowns Yellow Machine Deal: Boakai Govt Faces ETON & EBOMAF-style Transparency Scandal.” The article claimed that PPCC Executive Director Bodger Scott Johnson had stated his office had “no record” of involvement in the procurement process.
The PPCC swiftly condemned the report, calling it “false and misleading.” In a sharply worded press release, the Commission denied that Johnson ever made such statements and accused The Liberian Investigator of failing to verify facts before publication.
“At no time did Mr. Johnson make such a declaration to The Liberian Investigator or any other media entity,” the PPCC stated. “The Commission was neither consulted for verification nor granted an opportunity to respond prior to publication.”
The PPCC emphasized its commitment to transparency under the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA) and insisted it had worked closely with the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs (MOS) on the deal. It also rejected any comparison to past procurement scandals, such as those involving EBOMAF and ETON.
However, The Liberian Investigator stood by its reporting and fired back with an explosive rebuttal, releasing an audio recording of Johnson allegedly telling their reporter:
“My office has no record to show that PPCC was involved in any part of the deal. But you can check it out with the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs.”
In a defiant statement, the newspaper accused the PPCC of attempting to “erase the truth” and challenged the government to release full procurement documents to prove the deal’s legitimacy.
“This is not about saving face. It’s about saving our republic from the chronic dishonesty and bureaucratic manipulation that has long corroded public trust,” the outlet wrote.
The conflicting accounts have left many Liberians questioning who is telling the truth. Critics of the government fear a repeat of past procurement controversies, while supporters argue that the PPCC’s denial should be taken at face value.
Political analyst Emmanuel Hena said, “This back-and-forth only deepens public skepticism. If the government wants to clear the air, it should release all documents related to the deal and allow independent scrutiny.”
With The Liberian Investigator vowing to continue its investigation and the PPCC insisting on its version of events, the controversy shows no signs of fading. The ball is now in the government’s court, will it provide full transparency, or will this dispute further fuel allegations of secrecy in high-stakes procurement deals?
For now, Liberians are left waiting for answers, and wondering whether the truth will ever fully come to light.
