Official documents in the possession of this paper have revealed that the vehicle purchased for the Minister of Labor, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, cost US$45,000, contrary to claims that the vehicle was purchased for US$90, 000 outside legal procurement procedures. The records, which include correspondences between the Ministry of Labor, the Executive Mansion, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), and the supplier, Prestige Motor Corporation, indicate that the entire transaction was consistent with the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA) of 2010. In a letter dated April 4, 2024, addressed to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Minister Kruah informed the President that since assuming responsibility at the Ministry of Labor, he had no official vehicle at his disposal. “I have had no official car, reason being that my predecessor, Cllr. Charles Gibson, allegedly bought the official car and only left the license plate,” Minister Kruah wrote.
“It has been quite embarrassing for me to drive a private car on official duty, which has often subjected me to explanations to the police.” The Minister requested authorization to purchase a Ford Everest XLT 2.3L, attaching a photo of the model for the President’s review. In response, a letter dated April 10, 2024, from the Office of the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, signed by the late Minister Sylvester M. Grigsby, confirmed the President’s consent. “The President has received your communication concerning the need for a representation car to carry out your duties,” the letter stated.
“He has passed it on to the Minister of Finance and Development Planning to work with you in securing a vehicle.” This official approval paved the way for the Ministry of Labor to proceed with procurement in keeping with government’s financial and procurement laws. Following the President’s directive, the Ministry of Labor wrote the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) to seek clearance for the purchase.
The PPCC, through an official communication dated October 17, 2024, and signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Bodber Scott Johnson, acknowledged receipt and approval of the Ministry’s Addendum Procurement Plan for Fiscal Year 2024. “The Commission grants a No Objection for the Ministry of Labor to sole-source Prestige Motors for the supply and delivery of a vehicle at a cost of forty-five thousand United States dollars (US$45,000.00),” the letter stated. The PPCC further reminded the Ministry to remain in compliance with Section 40(5) of the PPCA, which requires that all procurement entities review and update their procurement plans quarterly or as needed. “The Commission admonishes and deems it a priority that you remain primarily in compliance with the PPCA, 2010, as we jointly aspire to achieve transparency, accountability, fairness, equality, and ultimately public confidence in our procurement and concessions processes,” the letter concluded. Subsequent documentation from Prestige Motor Corporation, dated September 30, 2025, confirms delivery of the Ford Everest XLS 4x4 7-Seater SUV to the Ministry of Labor.
According to the Bill of Sale, the vehicle painted in Absolute Black was officially identified by Chassis #MNCXW3R97SAB33069 and Engine #POWSAB33069. The Ford Everest, with a 2.0L diesel engine capacity, was supplied in accordance with government procurement terms and Prestige’s own sale conditions. “We are pleased to deliver one unit Ford vehicle subject to Prestige Motor Corporation’s terms and conditions of sale,” the document signed by a company representative stated. In a statement provided to the press, the Ministry of Labor emphasized that all documentations surrounding the purchase have been made available to the public in the interest of transparency and accountability. “The Ministry went through all procurement and approval processes laid down by law,” a spokesperson stated. “Contrary to misconceptions, the Ford Everest is not a luxury car but a standard utility vehicle for official use.”
The Ministry further noted that the release of these documents is intended to clarify misinformation suggesting the vehicle was purchased extravagantly or outside public procurement regulations. The publication of the procurement documents is expected to calm public debate surrounding the vehicle purchase. Earlier, social media discussions had suggested the vehicle cost over US$100,000, sparking criticism from sections of the public. However, the detailed paper trail from the Minister’s letter to the President, through PPCC and MFDP approvals, to the final bill of sale demonstrates procedural compliance.
Under Liberia’s Public Procurement and Concessions Act of 2010, all government entities are mandated to seek PPCC approval for procurement activities exceeding a specified threshold, particularly for sole sourcing. The Ministry’s adherence to this law including the PPCC’s explicit “No Objection” suggests that the vehicle purchase was both lawful and transparent. “What the Ministry has done releasing all procurement documents to the public is a step in the right direction,” said an analyst from the Center for Public Policy Research. “This is how accountability mechanisms should function in a democracy.”
Author: Zac T. Sherman
