A local daily in Monrovia has reported that one of the sons of Liberian leader, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Robert A. Sirleaf has reportedly established a Company name the Kosmos Energy in a bid to purchase the country’s last oil blocks 6&7.
According to the Hot Pepper Newspaper, Kosmos Energy is to purchase the oil blocks as low as Seven Million United States Dollars instead of Thirty Million United States Dollars, a situation the paper said will danger the growth of the Liberian economy.
According to the paper, the Liberian leader has reportedly given her blessing to Kosmos Energy to go ahead for the purchase of the oil blocks at the most ‘Moderate Rate of US$7M’.
The paper quoting a senior member of the National Legislature who spoke in confidence, said the only reason the sale of oil blocks 6&7 is being stalled is because the Liberian leader has not given in to the demand of the Speaker of the House of Representative, Alex Tyler that oil blocks 6&7 be given to both houses (Representatives and Senate), leaving the President free to do so as she went on with block 17.
The lawmaker further speaking to the paper said it will be a difficult fight to pass the oil blocks in question, with the legislators being fully knowledgeable of the facts that Kosmos Energy is in the financial interest of the President and her son, Robert A. Sirleaf.
The lawmaker also said the President has no leverage in the House of Representatives and would be forced to a base bargain once it is in the interest of her son. He further observed that it is only in the Senate that the President has a little influence, the paper quoting the lawmaker added.
It can be recalled, that the same Robert Sirleaf who brought Chevron to Liberia, after Oranto sold the 70% of his shares in offshore oil blocks 11, 12 and 14 to Chevron. The Liberian Government could not account for the taxes on the sales of the oilblocks.
Liberians who spoke to GNN in an exclusive interview expressed frustration over this new development, and wonder where the futures of their beloved Country lies will.
Efforts to contact Mr. Robert Sirleaf on this report, proved unsuccessful following countless number phone calls which rank endlessly.