Claim: Public Works Minister Roland Giddings has alleged that the $14 million loan from Kuwait for Greenville Port rehabilitation was secured during the Weah administration.
Verdict: DUBAWA research shows that the $14 million loan from the Kuwaiti government for Greenville Port rehabilitation was secured in 2012 under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Full Text
Public Works Minister Roland Giddings claimed that the $14 million loan from Kuwait for Greenville Port rehabilitation was secured during the previous administration.
“There was a loan given to the last government for the port of Greenville by the Kuwaiti; with that loan, they bought some tub boats, and they were not used. In fact, the tub boats are now sitting down and have been damaged over the past six years. The loan was not paid”.
Giddings made the claim exactly two hours and one minute during the live show.
Liberia’s Public Works Minister made the claim during a live appearance on OK FM &TV.
DUBAWA decided to conduct a fact-check on the claim as part of efforts to counter misinformation and disinformation and to promote truth-telling in public discourse.
Verification
The previous government was headed by former President George Weah, who took power in January 2018 and handed it over to current President Joseph Boakai in January 2024.
However, research conducted by DUBAWA established that the loan agreement between the Liberian government and the government of Kuwait was signed on December 7, 2012.
A news report from All Africa reveals that the loan was signed between the two governments in December 2012.
Conclusion
Based on the official loan document and credible media report, the claim made by Minister Giddings is false.