By: Emmanuel Smart Jipoh
Monrovia, Liberia; July 4, 2025 – A number of staff of the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) have staged a go-slow in response to the latest suspension of Director-Common Christopher D. Sankolo.
The go-slow adopted a collection of political maneuverings allegedly by Deputy Minister of State With out Portfolio for Particular Companies, Samuel Stequoah, and President Boaka’s long-time secretary, Ms. Morine Yaude Nemah.
An insider acknowledged that the suspension can be in response to corruption claims made by LACRA Deputy Director Common for Operations and Technical Companies, Godia Alpha Kortu Gongolee, towards Mr. Sankolo, who had taken motion to curb cocoa smuggling, an exercise that has disadvantaged the entity of its rightful income.
The staff’ go-slow began just lately when Mr. Gongolee alleged on the LACRA exporters’ warehouses that Mr. Samuel Stevquoah and Morine Yaude Nemah knowledgeable him that the Board of Administrators had advisable to President Boakai for his removing, however the Board, Sankolo, and staff can be stunned when the President removes them.
Some LACRA staff, who spoke to the New Daybreak, stated Mr. Gongolee’s assertion led to the suspension of Director-Common Sankolo, one thing they famous clearly contradicts the Board’s suggestions and validates that certainly, Mr. Stevquoah and Nemah, moderately than the Board or the Ministry of Agriculture, management LACRA.
Talking additional to the New Daybreak, one worker stated, “It’s no secret that each time Alpha involves work and sees any of us, he’ll inform us that you’ll quickly know who owns LACRA..
I’m simply from the Mansion, and it’s only a matter of time for me to change into the brand new director basic.’’
The protesting staff imagine that as an alternative of the Minister of Agriculture having oversight over LACRA, Mr. Stevquoah has been exerting affect over the entity.
In accordance with them, Mr. Stevquoah and Mr. Morine Yaude Nemah have been utilizing their presidential connections to orchestrate campaigns towards senior officers, together with Sankolo.
It’s alleged that they meant to control findings of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Fee (LACC) to exonerate Gongolee…
The staff acknowledged that dossiers of paperwork have been submitted to LACC, however that they’re but to make any progress in inviting Alpha or witnesses.
They expressed outrage over what they described as a politically motivated witch-hunt towards Sankolo and Garley.
“We’re calling on the President to evaluation the circumstances surrounding these suspensions; that is about extra than simply two people; it touches on systemic corruption that must be addressed”, one other worker stated.
Moreover, revelations have emerged relating to Nemah inserting a cellphone name to Mr. Darlington Smith, Deputy Director-Common of the Human Assets Division on the Civil Service Company (CSA), instructing him to instantly halt an ongoing investigation into some workers within the workplace of Mr. Gongolee.
The go-slow has united staff, who’ve demanded the fast dismissal of Gongolee, whom they accuse of being the first architect of corruption at LACRA.
Employees alleged that Gongolee has been leveraging his place for private achieve, together with investments in initiatives tied to Nemah’s farm in Todee District, Montserrado County.
In accordance with them, Gongolee’s uncommon schedule—spending three days every week at Nemah’s farm and simply two at LACRA- highlights a troubling battle of curiosity.
“This isn’t nearly the way forward for LACRA; it’s in regards to the integrity of agriculture in Liberia,” one other worker acknowledged. “We’d like management that acts in one of the best curiosity of our nation, not for private achieve.”
Because the go-slow continues and frustrations develop among the many workers, the Company’s operations have been disrupted, elevating issues in regards to the influence on Liberia’s agricultural sector.
Stakeholders are calling for fast intervention from authorities to handle the turmoil and restore accountability throughout the regulatory physique.
In the meantime, because the state of affairs at LACRA unfolds, it stays to be seen how President Boakai will reply to the rising refrain of discontent amongst staff there.
