The suspension of Glasco (Right), has ignited a storm of controversy, with critics asking whether the government’s anti-corruption measures are truly impartial or if they risk becoming yet another example of selective justice.
Monrovia – The fight against corruption in Liberia has taken a new turn under President Joseph Boakai’s administration, but recent suspensions have raised questions about the true nature and scope of the government’s efforts.
By Willie Tokpah, [email protected]
On February 13, the Executive Mansion made headlines with the suspension of Emma Glassco, Director-General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NAFAA), amid allegations of financial mismanagement and administrative inefficiency.
At first glance, the suspension seemed like a significant step in the president’s battle against corruption.
However, the decision has ignited a storm of controversy, with critics asking whether the government’s anti-corruption measures are truly impartial or if they risk becoming yet another example of selective justice.
The Suspension and Its Aftermath
Glassco’s suspension came after an internal review, which highlighted allegations of governance violations and financial mismanagement, as well as an “insulting” leadership style, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.
With the backing of the NAFAA Board’s recommendations, President Boakai ordered the suspension and launched an investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) into Glassco’s conduct.
Citizens and critics quickly raised concerns about a growing perception that corruption investigations disproportionately target opposition figures while allowing members of the ruling party to escape scrutiny.
The suspension of Glassco, a key member of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), further fueled suspicions that political motivations might be at play.
A Pattern of Controversy
The Glassco case comes in the wake of another highly scrutinized series of events involving the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA). In the first few months of Boakai’s presidency, the government moved to replace key officials at several important institutions, including the LTA, the Governance Commission, the National Identification Registry, and the Liberia National Lottery Authority.
These officials had been appointed by former President George Weah.
However, the Supreme Court intervened, ruling that the Boakai administration had failed to provide evidence of gross ethical violations, which would justify the removal of these tenure-holders. The court’s ruling, which barred the president from replacing the officials, was a blow to the administration’s push for new leadership in these agencies.
Yet, just 24 hours after accepting the ruling, the Boakai administration moved swiftly to suspend the LTA officials and those at the Governance Commission, replacing them with the very individuals who had initially been nominated for those roles.
This move, which came despite the court’s decision, left many questioning the sincerity of the president’s commitment to due process and the rule of law.
Suspensions and Appointments
The Executive Mansion’s announcement revealed that President Boakai had suspended several high-ranking LTA officials, including Edwina C. Zackpah, Israel Akinsanya, Zotawon D. Titus, James Gbarwea, and Osborne K. Diggs, all of whom were accused of financial malpractices and questionable transactions at the authority.
In a move that raised even more eyebrows, the president appointed the same individuals previously nominated to act in the positions of the suspended officials, pending the results of an audit by the General Auditing Commission (GAC).
Boakai’s administration emphasized that these appointments were intended to ensure continuity and stability within the LTA, but the timing and the nature of the moves sparked a fierce debate about the president’s true motives.
In addition, the president suspended Garrison Yealue and Elizabeth Dorkin, Chairperson and Commissioner of the Governance Commission, for activities deemed inconsistent with the institution’s founding Act.
Though the details of their alleged wrongdoing weren’t disclosed, Boakai ordered an internal investigation and appointed a committee to report on the matter.
Political Maneuver or Genuine Reform?
While President Boakai’s administration insists that its anti-corruption measures are designed to create a more accountable and transparent government, the recent events surrounding the suspensions of Glassco, have left many wondering if the government is genuinely committed to reform or simply engaging in a political chess game.
The ongoing investigation by the LACC in the Glassco’s case might play a key role in determining the future direction of Boakai’s anti-corruption drive.
The outcome of the investigation, political pundits say, will reveal whether the Boakai administration is truly willing to tackle the systemic issues of corruption that have plagued the country or if the recent suspensions are merely another chapter in the long history of selective justice in Liberian politics.
