MONROVIA – The Senate’s handling of the Gbarpolu chip seal road investigation reveals how legislative oversight and anti-graft enforcement are learning to interlock. Senator Amara M. Konneh’s Public Accounts and Audits Committee has received the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s preliminary findings on the abandoned project. The contract, worth US$990,000 (L$180,536,400), was awarded to YSM, Inc. for 2.9 kilometers of road in Bopolu City. The Committee’s decision to summon current and former Public Works officials signals a preference for technical rigor over political theater. At issue is whether the certification, cancellation, and disbursement decisions taken can ultimately withstand independent engineering scrutiny. As THE ANALYST reports, the probe’s outcome will test whether oversight produces genuine accountability or mere documentation.
The Senate Public Accounts and Audits Committee (PAC) of the Liberian Senate, chaired by Gbarpolu County Senator Amara M. Konneh, on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, held a consultative meeting with the leadership of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to receive a briefing on the Commission’s investigation into the Gbarpolu County Chip Seal Road Project. The contract, totaling US$990,000 (L$180,536,400), was awarded to YSM, Inc.
How the Probe Began
During the meeting, the LACC presented the Committee with a comprehensive overview of the complaint, the investigative process undertaken, the preliminary findings, and the recommendations arising from its investigation into the execution of the 2.9-kilometer Chip Seal Road Project in Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County.
The Commission informed the Committee that the investigation was initiated following a complaint from the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) regarding the abandonment of the project after significant public funds had been disbursed to the contractor.
Committee Engages LACC Findings
Following the presentation, members of the Committee engaged the Commission in extensive discussions and sought clarification on several legal, financial, and technical aspects of the investigation.
The Committee acknowledged the efforts of the LACC in investigating the matter and recognized the importance of ensuring that any decisions are informed by credible technical evidence and serve the best interests of the people of Gbarpolu County and Liberia.
Works Officials Summoned
At the end of the deliberations, the Committee unanimously agreed that it is necessary to bring in both current and former officials from the Ministry of Public Works to appear jointly with the LACC before the Committee.
The decision was informed by the technical complexity of road construction and engineering, the certification of completion issued for part of the contract to YSM, Inc., and the cancellation of the remaining portion by the former Minister of Public Works. The officials are expected to provide a specialized technical assessment of the project based on the findings presented by the LACC.
The Committee believes that obtaining the professional opinion of the Ministry’s engineers will strengthen its oversight function and facilitate informed recommendations that promote accountability, transparency, and the prudent management of public resources. It stressed that credible engineering evidence must anchor whatever conclusions the process ultimately reaches.
Preliminary Recommendations Noted
The Committee further took note of the Commission’s preliminary recommendations, including the engagement of an independent engineering firm to determine value for money on the project, intensified efforts to locate the contractor, and a joint technical verification exercise with engineers from the Ministry of Public Works. That exercise would establish the actual percentage of work completed against the contractual specifications.
Commitment to Accountability
The Senate Public Accounts and Audits Committee said it remains committed to professionally exercising its constitutional oversight responsibilities and will continue to work collaboratively with integrity institutions and relevant government agencies to ensure that public resources are managed responsibly and that accountability is upheld. The Committee assured Gbarpolu citizens and the public that it will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion and will continue to provide updates as the process progresses. It reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all actions taken are guided by due process, fairness, and the rule of law. The statement was issued by the Senate Public Accounts and Audits