Those suspended include (L-R) Thomas Gonkerwon, Interim Managing Director; Eric A. Fredericks, Interim Deputy Managing Director for Administration; Emile Karnga, Interim Deputy Managing Director for Operations; and Dele Shobayo, Interim Deputy Managing Director.
Monrovia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has suspended the acting management team of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) for failing to declare their assets.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Those suspended include Thomas Gonkerwon, Interim Managing Director; Eric A. Fredericks, Interim Deputy Managing Director for Administration; Emile Karnga, Interim Deputy Managing Director for Operations; and Dele Shobayo, Interim Deputy Managing Director for Technical Services.
The Executive Mansion, in a statement, said the President’s action aligns with Article 2, Section 10.2(h) of the Act to Amend Section 5.2 and Section 10.2 of the 2014 Code of Conduct. It follows the President’s directive issued on November 27, 2024, which granted a ten-day grace period for compliance.
As part of the directive, all suspended officials must immediately hand over government assets to compliant heads of agencies, their designees, or authorized personnel within their respective institutions.
“The President remains steadfast in his commitment to good governance, integrity, and the rule of law. Public officials are reminded that asset declaration is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental measure to promote transparency and restore public trust in government institutions,” the statement read.
President Boakai emphasized that failure to comply with asset declaration requirements undermines national efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability. He reiterated that strict enforcement of legal and ethical standards will remain a priority of his administration.
The LEC acting management team was appointed last year following the expiration of the contracts of former Chief Executive Officer Monie Captan and Chief Operating Officer Kwame Kpekpena. Both men were recruited under the World Bank’s procurement process.
The suspension comes at a critical time as LEC struggles with low power generation due to a decrease in the water level of the St. Paul River, which supplies the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant.
The President’s decision has been widely praised by the public as a strong stance against corruption and a push for greater accountability in government.
