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Monrovia, Liberia – The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) has strongly dismissed media reports alleging fiscal mismanagement of the Monrovia Industrial Park (MIP) Fund by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, describing the claims as false, misleading, and politically motivated.
Several online publications recently alleged that Commerce and Industry Minister Madam Magdalene Dagoseh is under scrutiny for the reported misuse of US$429,000 earmarked for the renovation of the Monrovia Industrial Park. However, the CSNL, in a press release issued on Friday, said its independent investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing and described the publications as a calculated attempt to tarnish Minister Dagoseh’s reputation and undermine her leadership.
According to the CSNL, its probe established that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), under Minister Dagoseh, has adhered to all processes and regulations governing the MIP Rehabilitation Project. The civil society group noted that upon assuming office, Minister Dagoseh reviewed previous audit reports, including preliminary findings from the ongoing audit into the MIP Fund, revealing several lapses in fund administration dating back to 2017.
The MIP, which was transferred from the National Investment Commission (NIC) to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, had long been plagued by issues of poor management, lack of security, sanitation, and encroachment. Businesses operating within the 200-acre industrial area have repeatedly complained about its deplorable state.
In an effort to restore accountability and improve conditions at the park, the Commerce Ministry convened the first meeting of the Inter-Agency Advisory Board on October 14, 2025. Though the meeting did not achieve a quorum, it was rescheduled and held on October 22, 2025, during which the Board approved an operational budget of US$429,009 for the last quarter of Fiscal Year 2025. The decision was reportedly endorsed by nine of the ten Board members or their accredited representatives.
The CSNL clarified that contrary to media claims that some Board members had questioned the authenticity of their signatures on the resolution, all member institutions, except the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (which was absent), duly authorized their representatives to sign. “There is no record that any member institution has disputed its representative’s authority or the validity of their signatures,” the group stated.
The organization further noted that Section 5.2 of the MIP Administrative Regulation allows a quorum of seven members to make binding decisions. With nine institutions represented and signing the resolution, the CSNL concluded that the approval process was legally valid and procedurally sound.
Refuting claims that the Ministry had already awarded the rehabilitation contract outside the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) process, the CSNL emphasized that no contract has yet been awarded, and no construction work has commenced. Instead, the Ministry has only begun publishing Expressions of Interest (EOIs) in local dailies in full compliance with PPCC procedures.
“All documentation in our possession indicates that the Ministry’s operations related to the MIP are guided by the Inter-Agency Advisory Board’s approvals and conform to procurement laws,” the release added.
The CSNL also commended Minister Dagoseh’s record of transparency and integrity, citing her extensive public and private sector experience, including service as Assistant Minister of Planning and Administration, Executive Director of the Liberia Community Development Foundation, and Board Member of the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority.
The organization cautioned media institutions to uphold the principles of fact-checking and responsible journalism before publishing allegations that could mislead the public or erode trust in state institutions.
“We urge Minister Magdalene Dagoseh and her team at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry not to be distracted by unfounded claims but to remain focused on delivering the MIP Rehabilitation Project in the interest of the Liberian people,” the CSNL statement concluded.
