Monrovia, Liberia – The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), has reaffirmed its commitment to pay US$7.1 million owed to timber workers directly to individual beneficiaries, rather than through any groups or unions claiming authority.
According to the Ministry, payments will be made only after beneficiaries are verified as legitimate timber workers. The MFDP emphasized that ongoing disputes between rival factions led by Bartholomew Kollie and Michael Blama have complicated matters of representation, making it impossible to channel the funds through a single union structure.
Both Kollie and Blama are leading separate groups, each asserting leadership over the Timber Workers Union and laying claim to the settlement funds. The government has clarified, however, that no lump-sum payment will be made to any faction or leadership structure, stressing that only the actual workers will benefit.
“The government has no interest in shortchanging genuine timber workers. Our objective is to end the cycle of disputes and ensure that those who provided services in the timber sector are rightfully compensated,” an MFDP statement noted.
This assurance follows a recent MFDP stop-payment order on a US$200,000 cheque reportedly issued to the Liberty Law Firm amid disagreements over union representation. The Ministry has maintained that all future payments will bypass third-party claims and go directly to verified workers.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning has assured timber workers that their funds have been ring-fenced and will be disbursed in accordance with all national financial standards.