Claim: Senate Pro-Temp Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence bought a US $100k car.
Source: Isaac Doe, former deputy Minister of Youth and Sports
Verdict: Misleading; the Senate Pro-Temp vehicle cost $45k instead of $100k as claimed by Doe and other social media users
Full Text: Recently, there are claims and counterclaims on social media, particularly Facebook, about Nyonblee Karngar Lawrance purchasing a vehicle worth one thousand United States dollars.
One such post was from Isaac Doe, the former deputy minister of Liberia’s Youth and Sports. Doe post is quoted as saying “Rescue aunty buys a new car, cost US$80,800. He said, “Congratulations to the Pro-Temp for the purchased of her new Hundai Staria Highlander 2.2L turbo which cost as low as U.S. 80,000 (67,000-71,800 plus taxes estimated at 6,000 and shipping at around 3,000).”
A similar claim was posted by Shine Liberia, an online platform claiming that Senate Pro-Temp Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence bought a US$ 100K car.
Shine Liberia's post generated 329 reactions, 281 comments, and 72 shares up to the date of this publication. While the post by Doe attracted 345 reactions, 551 comments, and 33 shares.
Alexander Bealded, a journalist and former Grand Bassa representative candidate, also posted on his social media page.
His claim attracted 154 comments, 51 shares, and 76 reactions.
Martin Kollie, a social activist in exile, made the same claim on the purchasing of the vehicle.
Lawrence is the senate pro tempore of the Liberian Senate. She chaired the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia and the Grand Bassa Legislative Caucus.
Verification: To verify these claims, we contacted those who made the claims. Bealded, in his response, consented but asked if the pro tem bought the vehicle as he claimed.
He furthered that if the price of the vehicle is assumed to be US$50-60K online, it can’t be the same in Liberia.
We then reached out to Senate Pro-Temp Karnga-Lawrence via WhatsApp text messages to verify the claims.
Senator Karnga-Lawrence referred us to Africa Motors, the car dealers, to seek clarification.
She offered to assist in acquiring the information.
We visited the offices of Africa Motors in Sinkor, Monrovia, to acquire the invoice of the vehicle that was purchased by the Pro-Temp Karnga-Lawrence.
We met with the General Manager of Africa Motors, Kamal Chandwaney, who was authorized by the senator to share with us the invoice of the senator's vehicle.
Chandwaney informed us that the vehicle in question was shipped on December 20, 2024, with invoice # AMC-067-24, mark Hyundai, VIN KMHYB814BSU197224, transportation automatic, fuel gasoline, and black color.
He also shared with us a detailed description of the transaction of the vehicle and shipment: Item: Hyundai, Description: Staria 3.5L V6, Delivery terms: Duty-free, quantity 1 unit, Unit price: US$45,000, Discount: US$2,000, and net total: US$43,000.
Meanwhile, we could not verify the invoice from Africa Motor.
We have contacted Hyundai and when they respond, this article will be updated.
Conclusion: Based upon these findings, we conclude that the claims made by Shine Liberia and former Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Doe, Bealded, and Kollie are misleading. However, the value of the vehicle is US$45,000 but the Senate Pro-Temp paid US$43, 000 for the vehicle because she was given US$ 2,000 as a discount.
By: Richards Watson, Montserrado Fellow
