MONROVIA – The management of Kadi’s Restaurant has clarified recent claims made by Minister J. Cole Bangalu regarding FrontPage Africa’s published performance rating of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Mrs Kadi Porte, in a short statement, said on behalf of the hospitality enterprise, that the Minister’s suggestion that the Ministry received an “F” because it refused to provide free electricity to Kadi’s Restaurant is misleading.
In a Facebook post, the minister wrote: “Frontpage Africa are owner of the Kadi’s Restaurant which operates at the SKD Sports Complex. They insist that as long as the Ministry of Youth refuses to supply them LEC current free of charge, like the previous administration, we will continue to score ‘F’ as per their standard. Well, so sorry. We do not control LEC. They recently chose to individually meter every customer, including Kadi’s Restaurant. Besides, we refuse to ever be students that will buy grades…”
In clarifying, Mrs. Porte indicated that the existing contract between Kadi’s Restaurant and the Ministry clearly states that electricity supply is the responsibility of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Madam Porte has never demanded illegal free current and fully respects LEC’s metering policy.
FrontPage Africa’s scorecard, she further said, is an independent editorial assessment, and that the business has no influence over the grading of any government entity.
“Using her name to explain the Ministry’s poor rating is inappropriate,” the statement said, adding:
“If performance and accountability are being discussed, the public also deserves clarity on internal issues within the Minister’s office, including the transfer of drivers Kollie Zayzay, Joshua Walker, and Thomas Gray after disputes over domestic travel allowances.”
According to Mrs. Porte, evidence suggests that when drivers accompanied the Minister on official local trips, they were instructed by him to encash their checks and return the money to the Minister’s office through his Special Assistant, Mr. Solomon Vah.
“If Minister Bangalu has an issue with FPA’s editorial judgment let him engage the management directly, rather than him invoking a private citizen,” the statement also maintained. “These actions were reportedly stopped following advice on Civil Service Agency regulations.”
Madam Porte says she remains a reputable businesswoman capable of meeting all legal obligations, and that any concern about the FPA scorecard should be directed to FrontPage Africa—not to her.