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Claim: Liberia’s information minister claimed the country has “gotten MCC compact two.”
Verdict: Misleading. The spokesperson of the U.S. embassy in Monrovia has dispelled the minister’s statement.
Full Text
On December 19, 2024, the Millennial Challenge Corporation (MCC) announced that Liberia is eligible for a compact. The MCC compacts are five-year agreements between the MCC and an eligible country to fund specific programmes to reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth.
Created by the U.S. Congress in January 2004, the MCC partners with the world’s poorest countries committed to just and democratic governance, economic freedom and investment in their populations.
Discussing the one-year achievements of President Joseph Boakai’s administration on a local radio show on Thursday, January 23, 2023, the Minister of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) said Liberia has “gotten MCC compact two.”
Minister Jerolinmek Piah said the MCC team has established an office with workers in Liberia. Piah said, “If we have not gotten a compact two, the MCC team will not be in the country.”
He made the claim between 1:11:57 and 1:14:00 of the show.
The programme attracted 15.4K views, 272 comments, 185 reactions and 30 shares as of the time of this report.
Verification
DUBAWA looked through the December 19 announcement from the MCC.
The corporation stated that “eligibility does not guarantee that Liberia will receive a compact programme.”
The statement furthered that MCC and the U.S. Embassy look forward to working closely with the Government of Liberia to launch its Compact 2.
It added that the size and content of the “final programme is contingent on analytical work done in partnership between MCC and the Government of Liberia, the availability of funds, and approval of the proposed programme by the MCC Board of Directors.”
On December 20, 2024, the U.S. embassy posted a press release from the MCC, restating what the communication had said.
DUBAWA contacted Mr Piah through WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, asking for his evidence, but he has not responded.
A screenshot of the Messenger message.
DUBAWA also emailed the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. embassy in Monrovia to verify Minister Piah’s assertion.
In response, the spokesperson of the U.S. government in Liberia, Raymond Stephens, said, “Nothing has changed since the Embassy issued their statement on December 19, 2024.”
Screenshot of Raymond’s response.
DUBAWA contacted the MCC Press through email, and they responded with this link which shows that Liberia is “eligible to create a compact.”
Conclusion
Minister Jerolinmek Piah’s claim that Liberia has gotten the MCC Compact 2 is misleading.
