Rep. Manseah: Why the Attack on VP Koung? --Setting the Record Straight on the Petroleum Pricing Reform Debate

The Liberian media has been dominated by debates among Nimba County’s political leaders in recent weeks. Much of this focused on accusations by Representative Musa Hassan Bility and Senator Smuel G. Kogar against Vice President, Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Sr. While Senator Kogar’s issues are largely personal and tied to the recently concluded Nimba District 5 by-election, Representative Bility has gone further alleging that the Vice President is attacking both his political career and his business interests. 

The national conversation, however, must be rooted in facts, particularly as it relates to the restructuring of petroleum product pricing. Representative Ernest M. Manseah, on June 30, 2025, Senator Emmanuel J. Nuquah of Margibi County, have raised concerns before the Senate about the existing petroleum price structure, which included unfair and outdated charges that burdened ordinary Liberians.

His communication revealed that the price structure made up of 16 separate items allowed private storage tank owners, most notably Srimex, linked to Rep. Bility, to collect excessive fees even though much of the work was being performed by the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC). In response, the Senate set up a Joint Committee that included the Committees on Ways, Means, and Finance; Commerce, Industry, and Trade; Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petitions; and Public Corporations. This body conducted a full-scaled investigation with all major stakeholders: LPRC, Ministry of Commerce, Petroleum Importers Association, Liberian Business Association, and Storage Tank Owners Association. The investigation uncovered several troubling facts: 

1. Liberians were paying a 2% financing cost, amounting to LRD 400 for every USD 100 worth of fuel, which went directly to storage tank owners.
2. An evaporation charge of 1–1.5% meant that from January to June 2025, consumers paid for over 1 million gallons of “lost” fuel, without evidence that such losses ever occurred.
3. The storage charge of USD 0.35 per gallon was far above international standards (USD 0.05 per gallon).
4. Despite LPRC performing the technical and regulatory functions, private tank owners collected the fees.

 Based on the Committee’s recommendations, the Senate endorsed reforms to make petroleum pricing fairer and more transparent. On September 3, 2025, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. acted on these recommendations, mandating: 

• Reducing the financing cost to 1% of CIF value.
• Cutting evaporation charges to 0.25%.
• Adjusting the storage charge to USD 0.05 per gallon.
• Redirecting 5 cents per gallon to the National Road Fund, projected to raise USD 6.5 million annually for roads in all 15 counties.
• Ensuring fees for regulatory services go directly to LPRC.

 These reforms are not an attack on Rep. Bility or his business. They are pro-people policies meant to ease financial burdens on ordinary Liberians while boosting revenue for national priorities. Vice President Koung’s role in chairing the presidential committee was aligned with legislative findings and the President’s directive. 

His leadership reflects commitment to accountability, fairness, and the welfare of Liberians not political vendettas. “This is about justice for the Liberian people, not about politics,” I emphasize as Representative Ernest M. Manseah. “We cannot allow the truth to be twisted. This reform protects consumers, strengthens LPRC, and generates revenue for development. It is not an attack on anyone’s political career or business interest.” To be clear, policy reform is not political warfare. Political attacks are: 

• Declaring intentions to unseat fellow lawmakers in their own constituencies.
• Publicly undermining colleagues’ development initiatives without consultation.
• Using political platforms to overshadow or marginalize peers in their districts.

The restructuring of petroleum pricing does none of these things. The petroleum price reform is a victory for the Liberian people. Any attempt to mischaracterize it as a personal vendetta against Rep. Bility is misleading and undermines the genuine progress being made under the leadership of President Boakai and Vice President Koung. As a lawmaker, I remain committed to supporting reforms that reduce costs for our people, strengthen our institutions, and put Liberia first.