A spokesman for Liberia’s President George Weah has confirmed that the government withdrew funds of donors without their approval but insisted the money was partly used to pay salaries and would be returned and accounted for.
Isaac Solo Kelgbeh made the admission after a leaked letter written to Mr. Weah and signed by nine ambassadors put the spotlight this week on how the government had withdrawn donor aid kept in accounts at Liberia’s central bank.
The letter urged the government to immediately return whatever funds had been taken.
It was signed by the ambassadors of the European Union, US, UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Norway, and Sweden. Mr. Kelgbeh said Mr. Weah had received the communication in good faith and will act accordingly.
Mr. Kelgbeh said part of the money was used for the payment of salaries last year and the government had some shortcomings.
He said the government is in the process of returning the money before the communication came
