The Board of the Liberia Special Economic Zone Authority (LSEZA) has recommended the immediate suspension of the Executive Chairperson, Prince Anything Wreh for what it calls ‘numerous violations of the Act’ establishing the LSEZA.
In its decision reached on February 21, 2025, the Board recommended that Mr. Wreh be suspended and subjected to investigation for what it calls ‘misappropriation, violation of LSEZA’s Act, and singlehandedly’ running the Authority without the Board’s approval, and refusal to take board instructions
The Board says “Without Board approval, Honorable Prince Anything Wreh used over US$500,000.00 in 2024 and has refused to make an annual report to the Board. Honorable Prince Anything Wreh submitted a report covering April 2024 to August 2024, in which Mr. Wreh informed the Board that two hundred and twenty-one thousand six hundred and eighty-eight dollars thirty-four cent (US$221,688.34) as amount expended on personnel.
After reviewing the report, the Board established that Wreh has expended two hundred and sixty-four thousand (US$264,000) on personnel.
According to the budget execution report, US$146,357.99 (one hundred and forty-six thousand three hundred and fifty-seven dollars ninety-nine cent) was approved by Honorable Prince Anything Wreh for goods and services, but Mr. Wreh spends two hundred and thirty-five thousand two hundred and twenty-nine dollars forty-seven cent (US$ 235,229.47). The amount requires detailed information, supporting documents and narrative to support the expenditure made on goods and services.”
“According to the Executive Chairperson’s report covering April 2024 to August 2024, the authority received US$21,550 (twenty-one thousand five hundred and fifty) from another source, but refused to mention the source. The Board asked the Executive Chairperson to invite the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to commission an audit to meet the December 31, 2024, deadline of publishing the annual report covering April 2024 to November 11, 2024.
Since the Authority has not recruited the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Chief Accountant (CA), the Executive Chairperson (EC) and the Board Member responsible for Administration, Finance and Marketing (BM-AFM) were authorized to manage the finances and serve as approving authority of funds, which the Executive Chairperson refused to adhere to the Board decision.
The Board resolved, requested and mandated that the Honorable Prince Anything Wreh to facilitate, encourage, invite, implement, convene and submit reports to the Board before November 23, 2024 on the below listed activities and he refused to implement the decisions and resolutions; Invite the USAID team to a meeting to discuss the report on Proposed Institutional Structure and Projected Cash flow model for the LSEZA.
This meeting will also address the concern of organogram of LSEZA, and Terms of References (ToRs) development,” the Board of LSEZA said.
The Board also said “In order for the Board to assess the contract’s status and identify the process that would result in the approval of the regulations, the Board requested that he writes the donor funding the consultant in charge of creating the implementing regulations to a meeting. Asked the EC to convene a meeting with all the donor stakeholders doing business or have interest in LSEZA. Asked him to invite all the occupants on the LSEZA property to a conference individually. In the letter of request, kindly notify them to submit documents relating to their occupancy.
Asked him to write the Board of Directors of the RIA, inviting them to a meeting to initiate a conversation on the utilization of the 1,980 acres of land for the use by LSEZA. Asked him to invite the National Investment Commission (NIC) to a meeting that leads to the development of a plan for the transitioning of the Special Agro Processing Zone to the LSEZA.”
“Honorable Prince Anything Wreh, single-handedly took over US$55,000.00 and rented a building in the name of LSEZA National Office without Board approval, when the Authority has a building at the Monrovia Free Zone that needs minor renovation and furniture. Section 20.b says, with the Authority of the Board of Directors, delegate in whole or in part its SEZ development, operation, maintenance, and management rights and obligations to authorized third party developers, operators (sub-developer or sub-operator) by means of any legal arrangement, including a subcontracting agreement, in conformity with the SEZ License.
In the absence of the Board giving property to a third party, Mr. Wreh has signed MOUs and given the authority property to a third party for development, operation, maintenance, and management,” the Board further said.
In its complaint, the Board said “Honorable Prince Anything Wreh setup his own salary at US$8,000.00 and salaries for other staff without Board input and approval. Up to date, Mr. Wreh has refused to pay members of the Board salary since September 2024 to present. Also, Mr. Wreh owed two months’ salaries to local staff.”
The Board has requested the President to take swift action in order save the institution from total collapse
