Monrovia – A number of government employees, who apparently are known not be members of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), have been and are being dismissed. Others are also being transferred to positions of no relevance in their respective ministries and agencies of government.
Report by Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
FrontPageAfrica has gathered that several heads are rolling at the Ministries of Finance, Gender, Foreign Affairs, State, etc.
Inside sources say the dismissals and transfers are an approach being taken by heads of agencies and ministries to cleanse their entities of staunch members of opposition parties and at the same time, create room for employment of members of the ruling establishment.
“What we are hearing is that they want us out because they think by expressing our views, we are causing problem for the government. Besides that, in almost all the government ministries and agencies, there are lists of names from the ruling party headquarters for employment, so they have to make room,” a recently dismissed official told FrontPageAfrica.
At the Ministry of Gender for example, FrontPageAfrica has obtained a communication dated June 14, 2018 emanating from the Minister, Williametta E. Saydee-Tarr, requesting the Acting Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to transfer a list six of employees, stating “These employees need to be transferred immediately, to enable the Ministry delivers effectively.”
Those requested to be transferred are: Emmette K. Kaye, J. Worlobah Mormolu, Horatio B. Willie, Naomi Jarbah, Stephen Yekeh and Garmai Momolu.
While the CSA is yet to effect the transfer, Min. Tarr has submitted a list of seven names to the Human Resource Director, Benson G. Whea, for employment. Her directive to the Human Resource Director is contained in a June 29, 2018 Memorandum which reads:
“You are hereby instructed to ensure that the appropriate actions and procedures are taken to have the below persons employed with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as per the Civil Service requirement, effectively beginning July 1, 2018.”
Those named to be employed are Celestine Crawford Wisseh, Training and Development Officer; Omilford S. Nyah, Assistant Director Procurement; Edwin Z. Zoludua, Special Technical Assistant/Minister; Hassan Newland, Director for Policy Research and Mobilization; Eric Pervist, Communications Specialist; Eric Keita, Warehouse Assistant and Michele J. Wiles, Senior Dispatcher.
Also at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the names of several persons well noted for being members of opposition political parties, particularly the Unity Party have been forwarded to the Civil Service Agency (CSA) for transfer without the knowledge of the affected employees.
A FrontPageAfrica inquiry discovered that those whose names have been sent for transfer include Ezekiel Korvah, Matthew Socree, Mohammed (Mo) Ali, Aloycious Nhne, among others.
One of the victims who spoke to this paper on the basis of anonymity said though the CSA is yet to take action on the transfer request, their replacements are already working in the positions and in some cases duplicated positions.
“I can tell for a fact that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning’s payroll has been bloated. It has reached redline. They have over-employed. So some of us go to work just to sign in in the morning, leave the building and go back to sign out. This is simply because we are there but we have no assignments, nothing to do. They’re not making use of us,” he said.
This scenario is not unique to the Finance and Gender Ministries. Several heads have rolled at the Ministries of Health, Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Commerce and Industry and the National Transit Authority, among others.
A victim of an abrupt dismissal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told FrontPageAfrica, “I see no reason why I was dismissed. Maybe, it’s because they know that I am not a member of the CDC and I sometimes express my dissenting opinions on national issues on social media. Maybe, they just want to create space to employ more Cdcians.” This victim, however, didn’t seem bitter against the government for “illegal dismissal.”
Breaching CSA Standing Order
A FrontPageAfrica investigation established that the procedure through which heads of ministries and agencies are requesting transfers violates the Standing Order of the Civil Service Agency (CSA).
Chapter 3, Section 3.4.9 a) states, “With the approval of the Director‐General, a vacant position may be filled by the transfer of an employee from another position in the same class, or from a different class requiring essentially the same qualifications and the same maximum salary. If the agency which is to lose the employee does not approve, the transfer may still take place, provided that the losing agency is given 30 days’ notice of the intended transfer.
b) “Internal transfers may be effected by the administrative authority but such transfers must not reduce the salary or status of civil servants, except in the cases of disciplinary actions which must adhere to sections 4.2.4 and 4.2.8 of these regulations.”
Victims of the transfer, who spoke with FPA said contrary to they being informed of their transfers, the heads of entities have decided to operate secretly without prior notice to them and reasons for their transfers.
“This is simply being done because we are civil servants and they do not have the power to dismiss us, so the best they can do is to say they are transferring us, but if we must be transferred, we must be transferred to similar positions or capacity in which we were employed,” she said.
Breaking the Promise
When President George Weah was certificated in January 2018 by the National Elections Commission (NEC) for winning the presidential elections, he raised the hopes and aspirations of Liberians, especially those in the employ of government with a solemn promise.
He said, “Whether in your offices or anywhere else, feel free to speak out your minds. Don’t be afraid, because our democracy is alive, and so we will work hard at all times to protect your rights of freedom of speech and others.”
In that same speech, President Weah emphasized that the resolve of the CDC-led government is to work with all Liberians, irrespective of political differences to move the country forward.
He noted, “Let this day be a day that Liberians will unite. Let this day be a day that all of us, regardless of our political differences, will sit in our offices and elsewhere to discuss issues common to us,” he said.
Also in his inaugural speech, the President stated among other things: “We must not allow political loyalties prevent us from collaborating in the national interest. We must respect each other and act as neighbors, regardless of religious, social and economic differences.”
At that same event six months ago, the United States Ambassador to Liberia, Amb. Christine Elder, called on all elected officials to work with their opponents at the polls for the common good country.
She said, “So many people are striving for public offices but everyone cannot win at the same time. Therefore, those of you who have won should find ways and bring aboard your opponents at the polls so that they too in some way may contribute to the building process of your country.”
Weah Threading In Ellen’s Path?
When former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was inaugurated in 2005, her government embarked on a similar path but much more cunningly through “rightsizing and downsizing.”
This policy that was introduced, victimized many Liberians, most of whom were laid off from their jobs, in the name of being over aged, not qualified and workplaces being bloated.
The Madam said she needed a small but effective government “in order to have greater accountability, transparency and efficiency.”