MONROVIA – A major investment scandal has rocked the National Port Authority (NPA), with a Chinese investor, Yang Dan, accusing NPA Managing Director Sekou A.M. Dukuly of allegedly defrauding him of over US$2.5 million in a failed mineral water bottling and mining venture in Liberia.
According to legal documents published by Vision TV on its Facebook page, the law firm J. Johnny Momoh & Associates has written to Liberia’s Inspector General of Police, Col. Gregory Coleman, requesting a full criminal investigation into the matter. The May 12, 2025, letter claims that Mr. Dukuly abused his official position and trust to exploit the investor, using large sums of money meant for business purposes to satisfy personal needs.
“Our client, Mr. Yang Dan, came to Liberia in November 2022 to explore investment opportunities and was introduced to Mr. Sekou Dukuly by the General Manager of the Colony Hotel in March 2023,” the letter stated. “Following several business discussions, including establishing a mineral water bottling plant, Mr. Dukuly agreed to provide land while our client would fund the construction.”
According to the letter, Mr. Dan dispatched a team from China and began constructing the plant in January 2024. Despite an agreement that both parties would contribute equally, the Chinese investor allegedly shouldered the financial burden alone, spending over US$2.5 million in project costs, machinery procurement, logistics, salaries, and business operations. Mr. Dukuly, on the other hand, reportedly only wired US$330,000 and made repeated requests for luxury goods and personal items.
“Mr. Dukuly requested our client purchase business class tickets, Rolex watches, mobile phones, and even medical equipment for a clinic. Our client went as far as renovating properties belonging to Mr. Dukuly and his associates at his own expense,” the law firm alleged.
The document further accuses Mr. Dukuly of conspiring with Chinese business partners brought into the country by Mr. Dan to file criminal charges against him after he demanded accountability. The resulting case, which accuses Dan of theft of property totaling US$4.58 million, is now pending before the Monrovia City Court.
Adding to the accusations, a man identified as Olesman Toe Brown, alleged to be acting on Dukuly’s behalf, is accused of forcibly seizing Dan’s excavator and Foton truck and leasing them out without the owner’s consent. The letter also claims Brown received over US$220,000 in additional funds for licenses and legal services, none of which were properly executed.
When contacted by local media for response, rights advocate and public interest campaigner Emmanuel Stalhand stated: “This case raises serious questions about the abuse of power and the treatment of foreign investors. If these allegations are true, then Mr. Dukuly has betrayed not only a business partner but also the trust of the Liberian people. Transparency and justice must prevail.”
The letter concludes by requesting that the Liberia National Police apply for writs to retrieve Mr. Dan’s seized properties and bring those allegedly involved to court if probable cause is established.
As of press time, neither Mr. Dukuly nor the NPA had issued an official response to the allegations. The Liberia National Police has also yet to comment on whether an investigation has been launched.
