Monrovia – The Appearing Director Basic of the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), Dan Torkamawon Saryee Sr., has strongly dismissed media experiences suggesting the establishment is going through a credibility disaster within the wake of Director Basic Christopher D. Sankolo’s suspension.
By Augustus D.R. Bortue
Saryee described the claims “removed from the reality” and accused unnamed people of making an attempt to tarnish the picture of the Interim Administration Crew by means of deliberate misinformation.
It may be recalled that in June 2025, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai suspended LACRA’s Director Basic Christopher D. Sankolo and his Deputy for Administration and Finance, Chea B. Garley, over allegations of monetary and administrative misconduct. The suspensions stay in impact pending investigations by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Fee (LACC) and an audit by the Basic Auditing Fee (GAC).
‘No Credibility Disaster’
In line with Saryee, whereas the establishment has confronted challenges, the present management is actively working to reform inner programs, improve accountability, and restore public belief.
“We’re right here to ascertain a basis and a system that improves accountability and transparency,” Saryee stated. “And in only one month, now we have achieved vital milestones, together with reclaiming properties beforehand given to LPMC within the Seventies.”
He stated the brand new administration has prioritized neighborhood engagement and respectful negotiation techniques, significantly in Bong County, the place efforts are underway to revive cocoa and occasional processing services which are anticipated to create employment alternatives for farmers.
Allegations of Smuggling, Income Leakage Dismissed
Saryee dismissed as false and deceptive the declare that at the very least US$56,000 in royalty funds collected from exporters was diverted following the collapse of a documentation system post-Sankolo.
The report alleged that cocoa exporters have been not required to submit full documentation, however solely Tools Interchange Receipts (EIRs) from APM Terminals—missing commodity particulars or proof of royalty funds. It additional claimed that exporters have been making direct funds to a 3rd celebration, recognized solely as Gongolee.
However Saryee countered that the report did not replicate a balanced perspective, significantly because it omitted his response.
“We inherited sure lapses, however we instantly moved to deal with them. For the primary time, we held conferences with APM Terminals and GMTS Terminal—the important thing gatekeepers on the Freeport—and launched a unified compliance kind for all exporters,” he defined.
He stated the brand new system was developed with enter from all departments and is now being enforced to make sure transparency in all export-related actions.
‘Inherited Rot’ Underneath Sankolo
In a pointed revelation, Saryee accused suspended DG Sankolo of working a parallel system the place brokers allegedly paid registration charges on to workers as an alternative of LACRA’s official accounts.
He offered a grievance from an agent who reportedly paid charges in June 2025 that have been by no means deposited. Investigations revealed that the fee was collected by the suspended DG’s Particular Assistant, who admitted utilizing the funds for private functions on Sankolo’s authorization.
“We’re at the moment investigating whether or not this was a sample. That is the magnitude of what we inherited,” Saryee stated. “But, whereas we’re working to wash up the mess, others are exterior utilizing respected media establishments to shift the blame and distract from their very own actions.”
He stated the establishment’s Human Useful resource workplace has been consulted for steerage on disciplinary motion, and extra revelations may emerge as inner probes proceed.
Open Problem
In a defiant tone, the Appearing Director Basic issued an open problem to these accusing the present management of wrongdoing:
“We invite these actors to show us mistaken. This challenge has been exhaustively investigated, and the Particular Assistant in query admitted he was licensed to take the cash.”
Saryee concluded by reaffirming the dedication of the Interim Administration Crew to reforming LACRA and restoring institutional credibility.
“We won’t permit distractions to derail our efforts. The story reported is much from the reality—and now we have the info to show it,” he emphasised.
