Critics say the President’s silence undermines his anti-corruption stance and fuels concerns of selective justice within the government.
Monrovia – Despite President Joseph Boakai’s ongoing efforts to clean up his administration through swift disciplinary actions against officials accused of misconduct, Commerce Inspector General Dorr Cooper appears to be untouched, even in the face of mounting calls for accountability.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway, [email protected]
Just days ago, President Boakai suspended the Managing Director of the National Insurance Company of Liberia (NICOL), Nortu Jappah, and the company’s Board Chairman, Joseph Sando Momolu, over alleged financial improprieties and oversight failures. The Executive Mansion cited the President’s unwavering commitment to transparency and the responsible management of public institutions.
These latest actions follow a string of suspensions and investigations targeting officials suspected of violating Boakai’s good governance agenda. However, Cooper, despite his link to a serious academic fraud scandal, remains in office.
The University of Liberia (UL) earlier this year declared Cooper persona non grata and revoked his degree after a months-long investigation. The probe began following the September 10, 2024 commencement at UL’s Alexander Romeo Horton College of Business and Public Administration.
According to Norris Tweah, UL’s Vice President for Relations, Cooper falsely presented himself as both a student and graduate of the university. Investigators found he allegedly paid a significant sum to staff to fraudulently obtain a degree and even impersonated a deceased student to secure academic credentials.
As a result of the investigation, UL dismissed eight employees who facilitated the fraud, calling the scheme a coordinated act involving personnel from several key university departments.
These findings have triggered public demands for President Boakai to take action, with many Liberians calling for Cooper to be at least suspended and handed over to the Liberia National Police for further investigation.
Given Boakai’s reputation as a champion of accountability, critics are questioning why his administration has remained quiet on Cooper’s case. The silence, they argue, undermines the President’s anti-corruption stance and fuels concerns of selective justice within the government.
Earlier, Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana claimed the Executive Mansion had not received an official communication from UL about the matter, despite the university’s public statements and actions. This explanation has failed to satisfy the public, especially with evidence of administrative action already taken by the university.
In a recent interview with FrontPage Africa, Unity Party official George Lobbo defended the President’s approach, saying Boakai will not be rushed into making decisions based on media or public pressure.
“The situation about Cooper is on the President’s desk, and I can assure you that the President will act,” Lobbo said, although he provided no timeline for when such action would be taken.
Lobbo emphasized that Boakai believes in due process and will not allow media narratives to dictate his leadership decisions.
Still, many Liberians believe the President must demonstrate consistency in upholding accountability by taking a clear stand on Cooper’s case. Until then, suspicions of favoritism and double standards continue to swirl, casting a shadow over Boakai’s transparency agenda.
