2 junior Liberian ministers fired over diamond deal

March 28, 2007

Monrovia, Liberia 03/25 - President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia has sacked two junior government ministers, thus breaking an illicit diamond mining racked that has been thriving in the country, despite an international embargo on mining the gem in Liberia.

Deputy Lands, Mines and Energy Minister Charles Dagoseh and Assistant Minister James Konuwa were dismissed on Thursday "for their alleged involved in granting bogus licenses for diamond mining operations," a statement from the presidency said here Friday.

The dismissal of the two junior ministers came few hours after Johnson-Sirleaf had confirmed local media reports that there is illicit diamond mining taking place in Liberia with the assistance of some officials at the Mines Ministry.

She told journalists that an official assessment report on illicit mining reaching her showed that certain persons were mining diamonds under the cover of gold mining license they had been issued by officials of the mines ministry who were aware that they were actually mining diamonds.

The Liberian president vowed to take action against individuals linked to the illicit mining scandal.

Some officials of the Gold and Diamond Mining Union of Liberia had repeatedly insisted that some officials of the mines ministry were aiding and abetting illicit diamond mining activities.

In a related development President Johnson-Sirleaf reiterated her determination uproot corruption in Liberia, saying it has become "systemic".

She pinpointed corrupt practices the Freeport of Monrovia and at Roberts international ariport, where travelers are harassed, and at the finance ministry where some personnel printed bogus receipts to use for official transactions.