Monrovia – The chairman of the Solidarity for Trust for a New Day (STAND), Mulbah Morlu, has issued a strong warning against the National Port Authority’s (NPA) reported plans to terminate over 450 civil servants and contractors.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
Morlu condemned the move, calling it politically motivated and an act of political victimization, vowing to resist the purge using all available legal and political measures.
Morlu accused the NPA, led by Managing Director Sekou Dukuly, of masking politically charged dismissals under the guise of a restructuring process.
He argued that the move highlights the hypocrisy of President Joseph Boakai’s administration, especially after Boakai’s recent pledge to address youth unemployment during a cabinet meeting.
Upon taking office, Dukuly claimed that the NPA was burdened with an “overcrowded workforce” and has been tasked with creating a “lean and efficient” institution. However, Morlu raised doubts about the legitimacy of this claim, pointing to Dukuly’s hiring pattern, which he believes undermines the restructuring process.
Morlu alleged that the NPA had dismissed several workers perceived as political opponents while hiring individuals with close ties to the Unity Party, of which President Boakai is a member.
This, he argued, suggests the restructuring is more about consolidating political power than improving the NPA’s efficiency.
Morlu further criticized Dukuly’s admission that he was acting under the instructions of the NPA Board of Directors, led by Unity Party Chairman Rev. Luther Tarpeh. This, according to Morlu, raised serious concerns about the political motivations behind the planned dismissals, viewing it as part of a broader strategy by the ruling party to eliminate perceived political adversaries from the public sector.
In a statement released Tuesday, Morlu condemned what he called politically driven actions by the NPA and warned that any attempt to terminate the workers would face resistance. “STAND sees the move as an attack on civil servants’ rights and a betrayal of their trust,” the organization said.
Morlu reiterated STAND’s commitment to defending the rights of the affected workers, stressing that the organization would not stand by while over 450 workers are targeted for their political affiliations.
He described the planned purge as an unethical attempt to replace dedicated public servants with Unity Party loyalists, calling for an end to political persecution.
“STAND has pledged to employ every legal and political avenue available to challenge the NPA’s actions and safeguard the rights of the affected workers,” Morlu stated.
He also called on all concerned citizens and organizations to unite in demanding fair treatment for public servants, regardless of their political affiliations.
