The recent action by the head of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) to have sacked two employees and suspended several others over allegations of grave corruption is apparently being resisted.
The Director General of NPHIL Dr. Dougbe Chris Nyan in a Facebook on Wednesday, January 16, 2025, a day after he reportedly took the action against the alleged corrupt persons, frowned on some Liberians who he said do not want to see the progress of the country.
“Some Liberians don’t want Liberia to succeed; so, they Connive and Conspire against true Patriots who Fight Against CORRUPTION.”
The post of Dr. Nyan came hours after the Independent Newspaper in its January 15, 2025 publication reported a story with the headline “Corruption Backfires At NPHIL …Two Top Officials Sacked; Several Suspended Without Pay”
According to the publication, the Director General NPHIL dismissed two staffers of the NPHIL and suspended several others without pay for being involved in the unauthorized removal of 11 vehicles from the NPHIL compound and illegally selling them.
The decision to terminate and suspend was rendered after several days of investigation by a 7-member Investigation Committee comprising the Liberia National Police, the Internal Audit Agency, Senior Staff Members, and the Senior Management Team of the NPHIL.
The NPHIL staff members whose services were terminated include George Watson, Special Assistant to the Deputy Director for Administration; and Pewee Quaqua, Director of Logistics.
Darlington Bah, Deputy Director for Logistics, was suspended for an indefinite time.
By mandate of the Investigation Committee, the Director General also suspended the following drivers for three months without pay including Alexander Jisay, Jerome Ponney and Kennedy Gayflor.
Meanwhile, the NPHIL Investigation Committee recommended that President Joseph Boakai should terminate services of the Deputy Director General for Administration, Dr. Adams K. Lincoln, for his alleged role in masterminding the unlawful removal and illegal disposal of the NPHIL vehicles as well as frequently creating fake General Services Agency (GSA) documents so as to take personal ownership of an NPHIL vehicle.
“Corruption will have no place at the NPHIL under my watch as this may undermine the progress we are making here,” Dr. Nyan said.
“We will strive to maintain the integrity and standards of the NPHIL,” he added.
The NPHIL has subsequently turned over to the Ministry of Justice the affected employees for further action in the restitution of the government properties.
“I strongly call on the NPHIL Board of Directors and the Ministry of Justice to support these patriotic actions of the NPHIL leadership in stamping out corruption, protecting the integrity of our institution and the furthering the country’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development,” Dr. Nyan said.
