Liberia: Lawmaker Demands Probe Into Alleged Ill-Treatment And Suspension of Workers of Greenville Port

Monrovia – A serious allegation has been placed before members of the House of Representatives that warrants prompt investigation and action by Plenary – the highest decision-making body of the ‘Lower’ Chamber of Liberia’s bicameral Legislature.

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By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

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The matter has to do with the alleged assault and indefinite suspension of several employees at the Samuel Alfred Ross Port of Greenville in Sinoe County.

Owing to the grave nature surrounding this disturbing report, the House of Representatives has in turn mandated its Committees on Maritime and Judiciary to conduct an impartial probe.

The issue was raised by Representative Alex S. Noah of Sinoe County District #3, who in a formal communication, petitioned plenary to summon National Port Authority (NPA) Managing Director Sekou Hussein Dukuly to explain the alleged incident.

Rep. Noah’s communication was read on the floor during the fourth day sitting of the 3^rd quarter of the 55^th Legislature on Thursday.

The Sinoe County lawmaker informed House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon and members of that august body that Koffa, several employees assigned at the Greenville Port, who are also his constituents, were “flogged and humiliated at the job site” on the alleged orders of the port’s local director.

“Hon. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, in this age and time, it is dehumanizing and a contravention of their basic human rights for our people to be beaten, humiliated while on job by top brass and at the same time suspended by management without due process,” he reported.

“Therefore, I respectfully craved the indulgence of this august body to invite the managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA) to give the reason why these employees were allegedly beaten and humiliated on the job and without the outcome of any investigation are being suspended indefinitely.”

The Sinoe County District 3 lawmaker described the alleged act as “disgraceful and unlawful,” noting that the workers were also suspended indefinitely without any formal investigation or explanation from management.

He called on the House to ensure accountability within the National Port Authority and to protect workers’ rights at all public institutions across the country, apart from the NPA.

Following debate into the matter, a motion was proffered and agreed that the communication be forwarded to the Committees on Maritime and Judiciary to conduct a full investigation and report back to Plenary within two weeks with findings and recommendations.