Monrovia, Montserrado County – Political competition in Electoral District 14 is intensifying as Assistant Labor Minister Emmanuel K. Barnes, leader of the Barnes Movement, has called for an investigation into the finances of incumbent Representative Kerkula Muka Kamara.
Barnes is urging the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) to examine Kamara’s claims that he personally financed development projects in the district valued at more than US$590,000.
According to Barnes, the constitutional responsibilities of a legislator are lawmaking, oversight, and constituent representation, not personally financing public development projects. He argued that Kamara’s repeated assertions that he used his own resources to fund district initiatives warrant closer scrutiny and raise legitimate questions about the source of those funds.
«”When a sitting lawmaker repeatedly states that he is financing projects from his personal income, the public deserves to know the source of those resources. For this reason, the LACC and the FIA should conduct a thorough investigation,” Barnes said.»
Barnes made the remarks during the graduation ceremony of the Barnes Movement Skills Training Program, where more than 100 participants completed vocational training in pastry making, soap production, DStv and CCTV installation, tie-dye production, and beaded handbag making.
He described the initiative as part of his commitment to empowering residents through practical skills development and expanding economic opportunities.
Meanwhile, Representative Kerkula Muka Kamara has rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing, maintaining that he has not received district development funds since assuming office in January 2024.
According to Kamara, the absence of allocations from the National Legislature has not prevented him from supporting development initiatives in Electoral District 14. He has consistently maintained that the projects he has undertaken, including community infrastructure, educational support, and other social interventions, have been financed through proceeds from his private business interests and personal resources, not public funds.
Kamara has argued that his financial support for development activities reflects his personal commitment to improving the lives of his constituents rather than an obligation tied to his legislative office. He has also emphasized that there is nothing improper about a public official using legitimately earned private income to assist communities, provided such resources are lawfully acquired and properly accounted for.
His comments come in response to Assistant Labor Minister Emmanuel K. Barnes’ call for the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) to investigate the source of the funds Kamara says he has invested in district development. While Barnes contends that the claims warrant public scrutiny, Kamara insists his financial activities are transparent and derived from legitimate private business ventures.
