MONROVIA – The leadership of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) continues to face public criticism as fresh allegations of corruption and nepotism emerge, with one of the ruling Unity Party’s ardent supporters publicly branding Mayor John-Charuk Siafa a “criminal.”
In a scathing Facebook post on Saturday, May 31, 2025, Unity Party loyalist Queen Johnson unleashed a blistering critique of Mayor Siafa, questioning the legitimacy of his appointment and accusing him of abusing his office for personal gain.
“Siafa is a criminal,” Johnson wrote. “What do you expect from a guy who got appointed, took all his staff from his printing press and employed them at MCC, then closed down the printing press? He even made his daughter Revenue Director at MCC. He told people JNB [President Joseph Nyuma Boakai] never gave him the job, that his money gave him the job. Who did he give money to?”
Johnson’s outburst follows a damning internal audit at the MCC, which uncovered serious financial irregularities between January and April 2025. According to the audit report, roughly L$2.16 million and US$21,000 were illicitly withdrawn from the Corporation’s accounts. The findings point to fake deposit slips, impersonation and extortion schemes, and unlawful revenue collections that have contributed to significant financial losses and operational dysfunction at City Hall.
In one instance, fake deposit slips were submitted to the MCC Revenue Director, falsely indicating payments from four businesses into the Corporation’s Ecobank account. Based on those falsified deposits, requests were made for official MCC receipts, but investigators later determined the funds were never actually deposited. Further scrutiny also revealed counterfeit solid waste inspection letters issued to businesses before any such letters had been officially released by the Director of Environmental Health and Sanitation.
As Monrovia battles growing waste, inadequate sanitation, and urban decay, the revelations have cast a harsh light on Mayor Siafa’s stewardship of the capital. The situation has become even more volatile with the suspension of two senior MCC employees, Financial Comptroller Weemongar P. James and Community Outreach Manager Solomon J. Blayee, for their alleged roles in the financial scandal.
According to official suspension letters obtained from the MCC’s Human Resource Department, both men were relieved of their duties for one month without pay pending the outcome of further investigations. They are accused of forging Mayor Siafa’s signature to unlawfully access MCC accounts at Afriland Bank, with suspicion that a bank employee may have played a role in facilitating the act.
Blayee’s suspension letter, dated April 8, 2025, accuses him of forging financial documents and participating in revenue theft, actions deemed grossly unethical and in clear violation of both the MCC’s internal policies and the Civil Service Standing Orders. The letter condemns Blayee’s conduct as a betrayal of his obligation to ensure lawful revenue collection and support the Corporation’s urban development mandate.
Despite the severity of the allegations, Mayor Siafa has remained silent on the matter, refusing to release the full investigative report to the public. His reluctance to speak out has only deepened suspicion and fueled accusations of a cover-up.
Transparency advocates argue that the mayor’s silence is unacceptable given the gravity of the allegations. “Suspending employees is not enough,” said one civil society activist. “Without full disclosure, the public has no assurance that accountability is being pursued.”
As Monrovia battles growing waste, inadequate sanitation, and city decay, the revelations have cast a harsh light on Mayor Siafa’s stewardship of the capital. The situation has become even more volatile with the suspension of two senior MCC employees, Financial Comptroller Weemongar P. James and Community Outreach Manager Solomon J. Blayee, for their alleged roles in the financial scandal. Meanwhile, there has been no response from Mayor Siafa’s office to Queen Johnson’s public accusations.
