Monrovia-The Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) is said to have been turned into family paradise or dynasty by Director Warsuwah Barvoul in one of several nepotistic practices across government.
Employment of relatives or family members by heads of government agency is prohibited by law- the Code of Conduct particularly abhors such practice as a promotion of conflict of interest.
In sharp contrast to the prohibition, the LNFS is allegedly being turned into a dynasty as Director Barvoul is being accused of practicing nepotism and massive conflict of interest.
Activist Martin K.N. Kollie, in a social media post that exposes heinous malfeasance, claimed the LNFS has turned into a dynasty. “It is a family property while thousands of qualified and competent Liberians remain unemployed,” Kollie wrote, alleging that Director Barvoul has employed his sons Aaron W. Barvoul and G. Warasuwah Barvoul, Jr.), along with three other relatives.
The relatives Kollie said the LNFS boss has given employment opportunities are Catherine Kennedy, his brother wife as deputy chief of medic, James E. Blackie, his nephew as chief of Inspectorate, Calvin Marley, nephew of LNFS Director as special bodyguard to him and Charles Appleton, another nephew as Operations (OPS). G. Warsuwah Barvoul, Jr, according to Kollie is at the Executive Mansion as head of Fire for VIP Section, while Aaron W. Barvoul serves as procurement assistant.
Claimed Kollie: “He has three other nephews and two cousins also employed. And the Civil Service Agency (CSA) couldn’t discover this blatant fraud”?
Dubbing the situation as sad, he also wondered if it did not fit the interpretation of conflict of interest or corruption.
“If he wants to challenge these facts, we will publish more details including payroll details such as SS numbers, Employment numbers, NIR numbers, etc. We challenge him to challenge our facts,” Kollie dared the accused LNFS boss.
Kollie’s expose’ did not only unearth what he termed ‘dynasty’ at the LNFS, but also brought to light troubling occurrences that have the smell of corruption.
In the social media post, Kollie exposed what he said it is a glaring act of corruption or theft at the LNFS, that Director Barvoul is alleged to have intentionally shielded since October 2024.
The situation, according to Kollie, centered around the alleged thieving of US$2,190 worth of gas and fuel coupons and US$220 in cash.
“This is US$2,410 worth of gas and fuel. According to the latest release of the LPRC and MOCI dated February 6, 2025, the current price of a gallon of gas is US$3.68, while fuel is US$3.98,” Kollie said. “This is over 650 gallons of gas stolen, as we claimed this morning. Gas and fuel prices were even lower than this in October 2024,” he emphasized.
He quoted the Chief of Procurement, Korpo S. Morris, as saying in a letter dated October 11, 2024 and addressed to Director Barvoul that they “found out that the gas and fuel coupons were stolen on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.”
“The truth is that Korpo called for an investigation, but there was none because the gas and fuel in question were actually stolen by the biological son of Director Warsuwah Barvoul, who he hired/employed as Procurement Assistant for the Liberia National Fire Service. The name of his son, who also has access to the fuel and gas warehouse, is Aaron Barvoul,” Kollie stated in the post.
Kollie disclosed that the only two staff members directly accessing the fuel and gas warehouse are Korpo Morris and Aaron Barvoul, stressing “It was Korpo who complained.”
According to him, there was absolutely no burglary, and no keys got missing two years ago as claimed by Director Barvoul. “As Korpo indicated in her letter, the fuel and gas coupons were stolen.”
But Director Barvoul at a press conference Wednesday, admitted that the crime exposed actually occurred but said Korpo S. Morris was/is solely responsible.
“This case was investigated. Korpo Morris, the Chief of Procurement, is fully liable. Korpo begged us and said she would pay back US$100 every month until the stolen fuel and gas couples are restituted. There was no burglary. Korpo admitted that the keys to the warehouse have been missing for 2 years now,” Director Barvoul said during the press conference which Kollie said was hurriedly arranged.
But Kollie detested the Director Barvoul’s accounts, saying there was no investigation, no missing keys, and there was no bulglary.
“The flying sheet he showed today as an “investigative report” was backdated scam; a facade intended to distort the truth and deceive the press and the Liberian people,” Kollie stated.
“Because Director Barvoul wants to protect his son, he negotiated with Korpo to pretentiously claim liability of the theft even though she did not commit the crime,” Kollie also claimed.
“Director Barvoul said Korpo has begged to pay US$100 each month until the stolen fuel and gas can be restituted. This is not true. Korpo won’t pay anything. No one has paid anything since October and no one will pay anything. What he told the press today is a cover-up. Korpo did not steal anything. His son stole over 650 gallons worth of fuel and gas,” he added.
Kollie, an anti-corruption advocate and social justice activist, termed the situation as mere corruption, noting that Director Barvoul took no action since October 2024.
“How can someone even steal, and you only tell them to pay back?” He wondered.
Kollie said such person found to have stolen should be turned over for prosecution, and added that the LACC would find out the truth if it conducts an independent investigation into the matter.
He called on the LACC to step in and take siege of this matter, and added when the LNFS Director appeared at the Legislature, he told lawmakers that the National Fire Service doesn’t have fuel., yet over 650 gallons have been stolen.
He tagged the US embassy, State Department and other international partners in an effort to draw their attention about how Liberian government officials are abusing state resources while citizens are enduing unnecessary sufferings.
