President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has suspended, with immediate effect, three senior officials of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) following serious allegations of financial misconduct.
Those suspended, according to an Executive Mansion statement released on Thursday, October 31, are the Executive Director, Mr. Patrick Worzie; Deputy Executive Director for Operations, Mr. Richard Hoff; and Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Mr. AJ Armah Karneh.
The suspensions, the statement signed by Kula Bonah Nyei Fofana, Presidential Press Secretary, take immediate effect and will remain in place, without pay, pending a thorough investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
The report submitted to the Office of the President detailed questionable financial transactions involving these officials and others within the LRRRC.
The Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) is the government agency responsible for providing protection to refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, migrants, and internally displaced individuals.
A whistleblower named Daniel Jackson has come forward to make serious allegations against an entity, revealing instances of misallocated checks from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) totaling thousands of U.S. dollars and millions of Liberian dollars. Jackson’s claims suggest significant corruption within the LRRRC, involving the fabrication of refugee numbers, the issuing of numerous checks, and alleged self-payments by officials.
Jackson, a former employee of the entity, presented evidence on Spoon Radio and a Facebook live show, including copies of the checks, demonstrating that funds designated for refugee support programs were diverted to individuals unconnected to the intended beneficiaries.
Of particular concern are the accusations implicating the Executive Director of the LRRRC, Patrick Worzie, and his deputies in the alleged scheme. Leaked documents indicate that these officials authorized payments to fictitious entities and associates.
Jackson highlighted the detrimental impact of corruption within the LRRRC, stating that it has hindered the agency’s ability to fulfill its mandate of assisting refugees and displaced persons.
He called on President Boakai to intervene and requested an investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
“At the LRRRC, Patrick Worzie and his deputies are engaging in massive corruption. They inflate the number of refugees, generate over 100 checks, and pay themselves. We have the evidence, and it’s time for the LACC and GAC to take action to stop this scandal,” Jackson urged.
With the suspensions of the LRRRC officials, the President seemed to have heeded Jackson’s call for immediate actions.
The President, according to Thursday’s statement, further instructed that all affected personnel surrender government and LRRRC assets to the Commission’s Human Resource Director who shall act in the immediacy.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission is directed to initiate a full investigation into the allegations. The suspended officials are expected to cooperate with the LACC to ensure a swift and transparent investigation.
President Boakai remains dedicated to ensuring ethical governance and accountability and the promotion of transparency in all government institutions.
