The Deputy Governor for Operations at the Central Bank of Liberia has refuted reports of comments attributed to him when he appeared before the Plenary of the House of Representatives on Monday, November 19, 2018 that 53rd National Legislature and the former President Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf authorized the printing of L$10 billion Liberian dollars.
In a press statement issued in Monrovia Friday, November 23, 2018, Deputy Governor Sirleaf said he did not, at any time, made such statement as attributed to him in local media that during the legislative hearing, he said the 53rd National Legislature and the former President, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf authorized the printing of L$10 billion Liberian dollars as reported by some media institutions.
“During the hearing, I chronicled all communications between the Central Bank of Liberia, the National Legislature and the former President Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, whereas the 53rd Legislature and the former President requested the CBL to provide details of the quantity and denomination that would be printed prior to printing of currency,” Sirleaf said in his reaction. The CBL Executive said he recalled a communication from the National Legislature dated July 19, 2017 which stated:
“In view of the above, and with the power assigned to the National Legislature under Article 35(d) of the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, this shall constitute your legal and sufficient authority. Meanwhile, the Legislature would request that you furnish this Body with the appropriate details of the volume and denomination of the replacing banknotes prior to the printing and the minting of coins…..”
In addition, Mr. Sirleaf said he also spoke of former President Sirleaf’s communication dated August 7, 2017 which stated:
“I am in accord with the decision of the Legislature in this regard and I am pleased that the CBL will cover the cost of the replacement. In meeting the request of the National Legislature to furnish details of the volume and denomination of the replacing banknotes, please ensure that my office is copied.”
Mr. Sirleaf described the publications as outright fabrications intended to provoke the close relationship between the Bank and the National Legislature which has existed over the years.
“I wish to make it clear that the Central Bank of Liberia remains steadfast to maintaining its integrity in the promotion of the Pro-poor Agenda of the Government of Liberia, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. George Manneh Weah,” the CBL Deputy Governor emphasized in his statement.