Monrovia – Less than a year into power, the Boakai-Koung administration continues to be plagued by allegations of corruption, despite the President’s consistent pledge to combat the issue. The latest scandal involves the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), the government agency responsible for providing protection to refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, migrants, and internally displaced individuals.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Over the past month, Daniel Jackson, a former employee of the LRRRC, has made damning accusations against the entity. He leaked numerous misallocated checks from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), amounting to thousands of U.S. dollars and millions of Liberian dollars. Appearing on Spoon Radio and a Facebook live show, Jackson provided a wealth of evidence, including copies of the checks, showing that funds intended for refugee support programs were redirected to individuals with no legitimate connection to the beneficiaries.
Among the most concerning allegations is the involvement of the LRRRC’s Executive Director, Patrick Worzie, and his deputies in orchestrating the scheme. The leaked documents suggest that these officials authorized payments to fictitious entities and associates.
Jackson claimed that the corruption within the LRRRC has severely undermined its ability to fulfill its mandate of assisting refugees and displaced persons. He called on President Boakai to intervene and request 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.
FrontPageAfrica has obtained documents showing that officials exaggerated the number of returnees receiving resettlement benefits. The documents reveal that many of the names listed were “ghost names,” with their benefits being collected by others in a scheme allegedly devised by Worzie and his administrators.
Jackson also leaked a fake manifest containing unrelated photos and names of ghost returnees. These fraudulent documents were used to print fake receipts, which were submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) as “evidence of payment.”
In a related accusation, Jackson has called for an investigation into Geraldine Kolleh, who allegedly works for the LRRRC and uses her catering service to provide food for returnees at the rehabilitation center—a situation Jackson believes presents a conflict of interest. Some of the leaked checks show Kolleh cashing checks for over L$4 million and US$30,000.
Jackson further accused Kolleh of using her connections with top officials to intimidate others. He claimed that Kolleh has bragged about her ties to Senator Prince Moye, whom she met during the JNB-JKK campaign. In response, Moye denied any business dealings with Kolleh, stating, “We are very clear. When people get a bit close to us, they use that to intimidate others… The best thing I did was to serve as the national campaign manager for the ruling Unity Party.”
Comptroller Arrested
Meanwhile, Worzie and his team have denied the allegations. Instead, they turned over their Comptroller and several others to the Liberia National Police (LNP) for investigation into alleged financial malpractice. This action follows an investigative report by the Internal Audit Agency, which disclosed that the Comptroller and others forged signatures and altered financial documents during the recent repatriation of Liberian refugees from Ghana.
Speaking at a MICAT press briefing on Tuesday, October 22, Worzie stated that the investigation revealed that the Comptroller and his associates cashed checks and engaged in blackmail during the repatriation exercise. Worzie condemned the alleged actions as fraudulent, stating they undermine the LRRRC’s zero-tolerance policy for corruption and the Government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda.
At the LRRRC, Patrick Worzie and his deputies carrying out massive corruption. They inflate the numbers of refugees, generated over 100 checks and paid themselves. We have the evidence. And it’s time that the LACC and GAC take charge to stop this massive scandal
Daniel Jackson, whistle blower, LRRRC
Worzie vowed to collaborate with the LNP and LACC to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and face the full weight of the law.
Despite Worzie’s insistence that he is innocent, Jackson says there is no way he will be clear of the scheme as he is the true mastermind and has benefitted at the expense of the refugees and staff of LRRRC.
Happiness turns sour
In May, Liberia saw the return of refugees from Ghana. Approximately 750 Liberian refugees from the Buduburam Refugee Camp arrived via the Loguatuo border as part of a group of 4,300 scheduled to return between May and June. However, Jackson claims the actual number of returnees was far lower than reported.
Upon their arrival, the group expressed joy to be back home. But soon, that happiness disappeared. In September, a group of returnee refugees stormed the compound of LRRRC, protesting what they described as the agency’s failure to pay their benefits.
The group, led by Assistant Chairperson Emmanuel Derricks, expressed frustration over the Commission’s repeated unfulfilled promises. “For about four months, the LRRRC has been telling us that they will make our payments, but nothing has happened,” Derricks said.
He further explained that since the group was resettled in Johnsonville by the government, they have been neglected, with many falling ill due to a lack of funds for medical care. According to Derricks, the LRRRC recently promised to pay them by September 17th during a meeting with the returnees’ leadership.
However, the group rejected the new date, citing a history of broken promises from the agency. “We cannot continue to believe in false hopes; they have not lived up to their promises,” Derricks added. The returnees called on the national government to intervene in the matter and ensure that they receive the payments owed to them.
