Monrovia – A FrontPageAfrica investigation has uncovered what appears to be a major case of payroll padding and corruption in the wake of increased poverty and inflation in Liberia coupled with mounting allegations of mismanagement at the Gateway to the cash-strapped nation’s economy, the National Port Authority, still without a Managing Director appointed.
Report by Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
FPA has obtained several pay-roll checks dated March 1, 2018, which appears to be duplicating functions of existing positions with salaries nearly five times more than what the heads of key departments at the NPA.
Ms. Celia Cuffy Brown, who is the current Acting Managing Director recently hired several individuals – all last named Weah as consultants to positions inside the scope of existing jobs already occupied with salaries four-times more than the heads of those areas.
Efforts to reach aides around the presidency came up empty with one official telling FrontPageAfrica that the President may not have been aware of the hires.
Three of those posts include an Evaluation Officer, a Local Liaison Officer and a Public Relations Strategist, which according to sources were non-existent until now and created by the acting MD.
FrontPageAfrica has been unable to determine at the writing of this investigative report whether the names are real, fake or created to suit certain individuals in the corridors of power.
It is also unclear how the acting NPA manager, who has been making a number of critical decisions outside the appointment of a board, has been getting away with a wave of actions in the midst of an Executive Order by President George Manneh Weah.
It can be recalled that barely 24 hours after his inauguration, the President issued an Executive Order, directing all autonomous agencies and public corporations of the government to authorize and expend a cumulative amount of not more than US$3,000 for operational expenses.
“Any amount above the US$3,000 threshold must seek approval from the Office of the President,” instructed the directive.”
The order went on to direct Human Resource Managers and all relevant signatories of the various autonomous agencies and public corporations of government to authorize and pay all legitimate salaries and other benefits to existing employees.
Political watchers are scratching their heads over how the port MD is making decisions when the Executive Order has not been lifted.
“There is still a freeze on hiring for government ministries and agencies as well as autonomous agencies. You cannot hire for a newly created position unless it was previously budgeted for and even then, it has to be approved by the Executive,” said an official at the port speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the alleged scam.
Additionally, the source added, even if the acting MD is hiring the newly-created positions as consultants; it must be linked to the procurement plan that was submitted to the Public Procurement Concessions Commission(PPCC), especially when done in the middle of the budget year.
At the writing of this investigative report, FPA was able to confirm from the PPCC that no autonomous agency of government had submitted a procurement plan and that such consultancies require a vetting and recruitment process.
The source went on to add: “Even if there was a moratorium lifted, the NPA acting MD cannot recruit in the middle of the budget year because most of the autonomous agencies present a budget to the Ministry of Finance which is then sent to the House of Representatives. Were these positions budgeted for? Were they approved by the board of directors?
If not, it is a violation of the law, meaning she is not following good fiscal and budget policy for NPA.
Additionally, a consultant cannot make more than the person they are reporting to.
Finally, nepotism, she cannot supervise people she is related to.”
Duplicate I: ‘Public Relations Strategist’
The NPA currently has a Public Relations Manager Malcolm Scott whose salary is set at US$1,067 monthly.
But according to an employment contract obtained by FrontPageAfrica, the acting managing director on February 1, 2017, less than a month after the inauguration of the new government appointed an individual listed as Prince Weah as a Public Relations Strategist with a salary of US$4,500 less 10% government tax totaling US$4,050.
A copy of Mr. Weah’s first pay-roll checks No. 0021134700182801 dated March 1, 2018 in possession of FrontPageAfrica specifies his salary in the amount of US$4,050 for the month of February 2019.
FrontPageAfrica has been unable to verify Mr. Weah’s credentials as to whether he has a background relating to the consultancy he was hired to perform or even if he exists.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding in possession of FrontPageAfrica, dated February 1st 2018, between the NPA, represented by its Acting Managing Director, Madam Celia Cuffy-Brown and Prince Weah, a contractor, Mr. Weah is described as capable for the consultancy.
The consultancy states: “Whereas the National Port Authority has expressed its desire to hire the services of Prince Weah as Public Relations Strategist to be assigned to the Public Relations Department of the Freeport of Monrovia and Whereas the NPA selected the Contractor and the Contractor is capable, willing and has agreed to render said services, now therefore., in consideration of the mutual covenants, agreements and stipulation herein contained to be kept, fulfilled and performed.”
Duplication II: Evaluation & Implementation Officer
Similarly, the acting managing director also appointed Mr. Moses Weah as an Evaluation Officer with instructions to report to the Human Resource Director raising questions about what happens to the role of the HR Department and whether it lacks the expertise to conduct employees’ evaluation.
A copy of Mr. Moses Weah’s first check obtained by FrontPageAfrica dated March 1, 2018 shows that he has a salary of US$4,500 less 10% government tax totaling US$4, 050.
The NPA currently has a Human Resource Director, Marcus Cooper who was recently promoted by Cuffy Brown as HR Director. His salary was previously US$1067 as HR Manager, now as Executive Director of HR his salary is US$4,500.
FPA has been informed that the nomenclature does not exist in the NPA organogram or structure. In essence, the HR Manager makes US$1,067. Executive Director of HR makes US$4,500, an increase from US$1,067 to US$4,500 for a whopping 321% increase.
According to the terms of the MOU obtained by FrontPageAfrica, the management of the NPA agreed to hire the CONTRACTOR AS Employee Evaluation and Implementation Officer to be assigned at the Office of the Human Resource Department, National Port Authority, subject to the general supervision and pursuant to the directives and advice of the Acting Managing Director and /or Managing Director proper either directly or through an authority designated by the NPA.
The parties agreed that the Contractor’s responsibility shall be the following: Design and Install Employees evaluation system; Provide Information on employees’ performance; Determine ways on how to enhance employees’ performance; and Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Management of the NPA through Executive Director/Human Resource Department.
The Contractor, according to the MOU shall devote his full working time and attention to the business of the NPA During the term of this MOU, and shall not without the written consent of the NPA directly or indirectly or indirectly render services of like nature to or for any reasons or firm pro-bono for compensation to engage in any business that competes with the interest of the NPA.
Duplicate III: Local Authority Liaison Officer
The acting managing director also appointed Mr. Walloh Weah as Local Authority Liaison Officer although the NPA currently has Mr. Sekou Korleh as Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and International Relations, who is responsible for governmental and inter-agencies, commissions, legislature and local authorities.
Mr. Korleh’s salary is US $4,500 as Executive Director of Governmental affairs putting him in the same pay range as the Local Liaison Officer.
According to the MOU signed between the Port, represented by MD Cuffy Brown, and Mr. Walloh Weah, both parties agreed through a mutual covenant, agreements and stipulations that the position of contractor under the guise of Local Authority Liaison Officer and assigned at the Office of the Deputy Managing Director/Administration, National Port Authority, would be subjected to the general supervision and pursuant to the directives and advice of the Acting Managing Director and/or Managing Director proper either directly or through an authority designated by the NPA.
The MOU stated: “The parties agreed that the Contractor’s responsibilities shall be the following: Coordination of Port Expansion Projects; Review of current practices related to relocation of locals; Consult Elders and Locals at all levels; and Develop recommendation for management’s perusal and implementation if approved and performed other duties as may be assigned by the Management of the NPA through the Managing Director or a delegate.
The CONTRACTOR shall devote his full working time and attention to the business of the NPA; During the term of this MOU, the contractor shall not without the written consent of the NPA directly or indirectly render services of like nature to or for any reason or firm pro bono for compensation to engage in any business that competes with the interest of the NPA.”
Sister Act: Promotion for Family, Friends
The unraveling of the scheme comes amid yet another report that Cuffy Brown, promoted her sister Rebecca Teta Cuffy to Claims Manager in the Claims Department.
Sources tell FrontPageAfrica that while the position requires experience in Claims Management, the sister does not have the experience and had never work in the Claims Department.
Cuffy-Brown also promoted the Human Resources Manager, Mr. Marcus Cooper, from Human Resources Manager to Executive Director of Human Resources just to justify the US$4,500 increment.
She also promoted her close associate Vakuma Dukuly from Expenditure Manager to Deputy Comptroller and increased his salary by 321% and hired a new comptroller, Franklin W. Sarkoh with a salary of US$6,500.
Mr. Weah trumpeted a pro-poor agenda following his inauguration as he assured Liberians that transforming the lives of all would be the singular mission and focus of his presidency.
“I can truly say that the best way to celebrate all Liberians is to improve their lives through the instruments of pro-poor public governance. I declare publicly today that transforming the lives of all Liberians is a singular mission and focus of my presidency,” he asserted.
The new President has said in numerous speeches that he inherited a broke government and the first couple of months have been rocky at best as civil servants are yet to receive salaries heading into the third month of the year, leaving many to wonder why some people with the last name as the President are being paid consultancy fees against his own Executive Order.
Already, the current and previous government headed by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf have been shifting blames over what is actually in the national budget.
Big Spending for ‘Broke’ Govt
Mr. Vah Isaac Tukpah, head of CDC-USA posted on his Facebook page last week that Liberia’s is in a woeful economic state, partly laying the blame on Sirleaf. “Our coffers are DRY. Ellen cannot spin it any funny way. She left us a broke government that cannot source its revenue needs.”
In a cost-saving measure, the President vowed in his first annual message that he would cut his own salary by a quarter as he warned of tough times ahead for a “broke” country.
In Paris, France days later, the President said: “I inherited a country that is very broke, depleted by political malfeasance.”
“We have to make sure that the things that happened will not happen again. I ordered a complete audit to make sure that what belongs to the government goes to the government.”
The NPA regarded as the gateway to the Liberian economy is seen by many as one of the major sources of revenue generation for the post-war nation engulfed in economic obscurity.
In recent days however, many consumers have been lamenting the poor management of the port and raising issues about port management agreement with APM Terminal which is said to be constraining local importers and custom brokers, dealing a severe burden on the struggling economy.
Government insiders fear that that massive hiring at the port coupled with an overly bloated civil service at not just the port but in other parts of the government could derail much of the gains made in recent years as the new government struggles to restore economic sanity amid a rather rugged first few weeks into previously unchartered territory.