Claim: “The government delegation to the FOCAC Summit in China comprised 60 delegates.”
Source: Martin K.N Kollie
Verdict: Unproven; even though the government of Liberia delegates to the FOCAC Summit in China is more than 20 we could not independently establish if the number reached 60.
Full Text: Martin K. N Kollie, a Liberian based in the Netherlands, claimed on September 4, 2024, that the government delegates to China for the Forum on China- Africa Cooperation summit were 60 persons but the government made the public believe that there were only 9 members.
The post captured attention with 657 reactions, 773 comments, and 92 shares.
The summit, according to Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong, Vice Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs is for leaders of China and Africa to gather under the theme “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.
“To celebrate friendship and chart the way forward for cooperation on state governance, industrialization and agricultural modernization, peace and security, and high-quality belt and road cooperation.”
Verification: To authenticate Martin’s claim, The Stage Media contacted Kula Fofana, Presidential Press Secretary, via WhatsApp.
Kula shared a press release dated September 4, 2024, that named 20 delegates comprising of support staff, protocol and communication assistants, security personnel, and other key personnel from the president’s office visited Beijing, China, Ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The delegates are “Mrs. Kartumu Y. Boakai, First Lady, Honorable Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sylvester Grigsby, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs; Mamaka Bility, Minister of State Without Portfolio; Dr. Alexander Nuetah, Minister of Agriculture; Amin Modad, Minister of Commerce; Roland L. Giddings, Minister of Public Works; and Wilmot Paye, Minister of Mines and Energy.
Others include Jerolinmek Piah, Minister of Information Cultural Affairs & Tourism; Dehpue Y. Zuo, Deputy Minister for Economic Management & Planning, Ministry of Finance Development Planning; and Sarh Johnny and Morley Kamara, Senior Economic Advisers to the President.”
Additionally, “Jeff Blibo, Chairman, National Investment Commission; Honorable Sekou Dukuly, Managing Director, National Port Authority; Cllr. Neto Z. Lighe, Commissioner, Liberia Maritime Authority; Abdullai Kamara, Acting Chairman, Liberia Telecommunication Authority; Eugene Fahngon, Director General, Liberia Broadcasting System; Prince A. Wreh, Executive Chairman, Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority.”
Without a fixed frequency, the release furthered that support staff, protocol and communication assistants, security personnel, and other key personnel traveled on the trip from the office of the President.”
The FOCAC summit aims to strengthen strategic partnerships and explore avenues for increased cooperation in areas such as agriculture, trade, investment, infrastructure, education, technology, electricity, and cultural exchange.
To further authenticate the claim, on September 6, 2024, a WhatsApp message was sent to Kollie requesting details on the source or evidence of his claim. Kollie said, “They refused to mention their names but an official confirmed such information.
“Additionally, 12 staff from President Boakai’s office, almost 15 heads of ministries and agencies carried at least 3 staff and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carried 10 people,” Kollie said.
Conclusion: Our research revealed that Kollie’s claim is unproven. According to the Liberian government’s release, 20 delegates and an unspecified number of presidential office staffers were present; there is insufficient evidence to prove that 60 delegates attended the summit.
