Liberia, June 5 -- A growing controversy over millions of dollars reportedly paid by concession companies for county development projects took center stage at the Liberian Senate on Thursday, as lawmakers demanded answers from Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan regarding funds they say have failed to reach beneficiary counties.

Senators from several concession-hosting counties accused successive governments of withholding Social Development Funds (SDF) paid by companies operating in their regions, depriving citizens of much-needed infrastructure and social services.

The concerns were raised during a Senate hearing attended by Minister Ngafuan, who acknowledged longstanding challenges in tracking and disbu...