Labor Ministry Rejects Witherspoon’s US$90,000 Vehicle Claim

The Ministry of Labour has strongly rejected Spoon FM CEO Stanton Witherspoon’s allegation that Labour Minister Hon. Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah bought a USD90,000.00 vehicle in violation of PPCC Act.

A press release issued over the weekend and signed by the Deputy Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Mr. E. Frederick Baye, disclosed that contrary to Witherspoon’s misleading information, the Government of Liberia, through the PPCC procurement process and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning purchased the vehicle in question with the model: ‘Ford Everest XLS 44X4 Petrol 10 Speed Transmission’ at the cost US$45,000.

The release disclosed the official purchase invoice particulars from Prestige Motors Company on the Bushrod Island where the jeep was bought as:’#1424′. This transaction, according to the Labour Ministry press release, was triggered by a letter from Labour Minister Kruah to President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, dated April 4, 2024, in which the Minister requested for an official car to enable him navigate the labour sector and effectively implement the government ARREST Agenda with labour transformation and creation of jobs for Liberians as the core values.

According to the press release, Minister Kruah’s request was approved by President Boakai and transmitted to the Ministry of Finance and Development for implementation, which was done.

Meanwhile, the Labour Ministry is challenging Mr. Whitterspoon to prove otherwise contrary to the transparency and accountability policy of the current Rescue Mission Government of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung.

At the same time, Minister Kruah has released all procurement documents following controversy over the purchase of a Ford Everest SUV for his official use.

There had been widespread rumors and speculations on social media that the Minister used government funds to purchase the vehicle at a cost of between US$70,000 and US$90,000.

However, documents in our possession show that the Ford Everest SUV was actually purchased at the government-approved price of US$45,000.

The documents further reveal that Minister Kruah officially wrote President Joseph N. Boakai in April 2024, seeking approval to procure the vehicle on grounds that there was no official vehicle assigned to him upon taking office-only a license plate.

President Boakai approved the Minister’s request on April 10, 2024, through the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs and instructed the Ministry of Finance to purchase the vehicle. According to the documents, Minister Kruah also sought duty-free privileges from the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), which were granted.

The Ford Everest SUV was finally delivered to the Ministry of Labour on September 30, 2025, by Prestige Motor Corporation. The release of these procurement documents has helped calm public debate and dispelled earlier claims that Minister Kruah spent US$90,000 on the vehicle for personal benefit.

The government-approved price ceiling for the purchase of vehicles for officials-including ministers, heads of commissions and agencies, and members of the Legislature is US$45,000.