MONROVIA – A deepening crisis is unfolding at the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) following the suspension of four senior staffers, a move that has drawn criticism from within and outside the institution, with many labeling it a politically motivated witch hunt targeting loyalists of the agency’s suspended Director General, Mr. Christopher D. Sankolo.
By Selma Lomax | [email protected]
The controversy centers around the disciplinary action taken against Mr. Lans W. Kamara, Director of Operations; Mr. Abu Fofana, IT Administrator; Mr. Alieu Feika, Special Assistant to the Deputy Director General for Operations and Technical Services; and Mr. Augustine George, Director for Technical Services.
These four staff members were each suspended without pay for one month beginning July 17, 2025, after they appeared on a live broadcast on state-run ELBC radio on July 15.
During the program, hosted by journalist Melvin Stewart, the employees made a direct and emotional appeal to President Joseph Boakai, urging him to reconsider what they termed the “unjust” suspension of Sankolo and his Deputy for Administration and Finance, Mr. Chea B. Garley.
Their appearance on national radio, though peaceful and respectful, did not sit well with the interim leadership of LACRA. Instead of a response to their appeal, the staffers received suspension letters signed by LACRA’s Human Resource Director, Jackson K. Miller, and Interim Director General, Dans Saryee.
The letters accused them of making comments that brought the institution into public disrepute, citing Chapter 9, Section 46, Clause 9b of the Civil Service Human Resources Policy Manual, which obliges civil servants to implement government policies faithfully and uphold professional standards.
Critics, however, argue that the suspensions were disproportionate and appear to be a calculated move to purge the agency of individuals still aligned with Sankolo’s administration. “This is nothing but political punishment,” one of the suspended employees told FrontPage Africa, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We only went on air to respectfully ask the President to look into what we believe was an unjust suspension. For that, we’re now being penalized.”
The suspensions have stirred allegations of double standards and selective enforcement within LACRA. Staff members and internal observers are pointing to a separate incident in which a different group of employees staged a public protest on the agency’s premises, displaying placards with highly inflammatory and accusatory messages against Sankolo and his senior management team.
Placards read: “No way to false impression. DG and others must go,” “DG, DDGAF, HR, Comptroller are corruption web,” and “Director Sankolo lied on OK FM that he inherited US$470.00 from past management.”
That protest occurred in the presence of Civil Service Agency (CSA) Director General, Hon. Josiah Joekai. Despite the direct accusations of corruption and the visible disruption caused by the protest, none of the protesting employees, including Joe V. Thompson, Jackson Gongolee, Adoulphus Peawon, Isaac Wiah, Romeo Cheatoe, Moses H. D. Varney, and Kebbeh Miller, faced any form of administrative action or investigation before Sankolo’s suspension.
Several internal sources allege that the protestors enjoy political protection due to their reported ties to powerful figures within the government. Specifically, the group is said to be closely linked to LACRA’s Deputy Director General, Godia Alpha Kortu Gongolee, who reportedly manages private property for Deputy Minister of State Without Portfolio for Special Services, Hon. Samuel A. Stevquaoh, and Ms. Morie Yaude Nemah, Executive Assistant to President Boakai.
One internal source claimed that a Civil Service Agency investigation into the protest, initially planned to be led by CSA Deputy Director General for Human Resources, Hon. Darlington Smith, was suddenly cancelled following a phone call from Ms. Nemah — a claim that has only deepened suspicions of high-level interference in internal LACRA affairs.
“Is this the kind of justice the LACRA administration wants to be known for?” questioned a senior LACRA employee, who spoke on background. “Those with ties to powerful figures can insult, protest, and accuse management of corruption in front of national officials and walk free, but others who simply spoke respectfully on the radio are suspended and humiliated.”
The focal point of this institutional unrest remains Sankolo, who until his abrupt removal was being hailed for reforms he championed across the agriculture regulatory body.
Just months prior, Sankolo was named “Best Performing Head of Government Agency for 2024/2025,” a distinction that reportedly caused unease among political actors within the Joseph Boakai administration.
His suspension, alongside that of Deputy Director Chea B. Garley on June 26, 2025, has since led to a wave of speculation that their suspensions were driven more by politics than by any administrative wrongdoing.
According to multiple LACRA insiders, Sankolo’s growing national profile may have made him a perceived political threat. Staffers who had closely worked with him now feel they are being systematically sidelined for their previous allegiance.
“We need an impartial investigation,” said another employee. “Either we are all civil servants subject to the same rules, or we are pawns in a political game.”
Observers say the current situation presents a litmus test for President Boakai’s administration, which campaigned on promises of accountability, good governance, and institutional reform.
The apparent disparity in how disciplinary matters are being handled within LACRA could undermine public trust in these pledges if left unaddressed. With LACRA playing a key role in regulating and promoting Liberia’s agricultural sector — a priority area for national economic development — ongoing internal conflict threatens not only operational effectiveness but also public confidence in the agency’s leadership.
When contacted for comment, the communications department of LACRA described the decision to suspend the staffers as a professional one taken in line with internal procedures. However, officials declined to comment on the protest or the apparent lack of disciplinary follow-up regarding those involved in it.
As the four suspended employees continue to serve out their one-month suspensions without pay, they remain uncertain about what lies ahead. What is clear, however, is that the crisis at LACRA has exposed serious cracks within the agency’s internal governance structure, and unless addressed comprehensively and impartially, the integrity and credibility of one of Liberia’s most vital institutions may continue to deteriorate.
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