MONROVIA – FrontPageAfrica has uncovered that the Minister of Labor, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, has reportedly ignored and violated the Civil Service Agency’s freeze on new hires and transfers, and has provided employment to over 93 personnel in positions that are already occupied.
By Jaheim T. Tumu
FPA has obtained a communication from the CSA dated April 5, 2024, which informed Minister Kruah that his decision to transfer and re-assign employees of his institution was in violation of Chapters 3 and 4 of the Civil Service Standing Orders of 2012. These chapters state that all human resource movements must receive approval from the Director-General before implementation.
Minister Kruah’s actions violate the freeze that the Civil Service Agency placed on employment, transfers, promotions, and demotions on February 16, 2024. Despite this, he has recalled all Labor Commissioners across the country and has hired new individuals to act as Acting Labor Commissioners.
Cllr. Kruah, a renowned Liberian lawyer, is an official of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), led by Senator Prince Y. Johnson and VP Jeremiah Kpang Koung. The MDR is one of the alliance parties that helped the Unity Party and Boakai deliver the vote-rich Nimba County.
After the inauguration, Kruah was appointed as Minister of Justice and Attorney General. However, following public outcry, his appointment was quietly revoked by the President, and he was appointed to head the Ministry of Labor.
According to sources, the Ministry of Labor is predominantly staffed by Nimbians. The source further stated that President Joseph Boakai appointed seven ministers within the Ministry who hail from Nimba County, including the daughters of Senator Prince Y. Johnson, Madam Daybah E. Johnson, who is Assistant Minister for Regional Labour Affairs.
Naming the Ministers, the source disclosed Mr. Emmanuel Zorh, Jr., Assistant Minister for Labour Standards; Mr. Rufus T. Saylee, Assistant Minister for Trade Union Affairs; Mr. Rufus Kolako Freeman, Assistant Minister for Administration; Raphael E. Donokolo, Assistant Minister for Alien Registration; along with the Deputy Minister for Administration, Othello P. Mansuo, and Minister Kruah. Senator Johnson’s other daughter is the Director of Procurement.
The source emphasized that having too many individuals from the same region serving as Ministers within a single ministry is unprofessional and unhealthy. He noted that another daughter of Senator Johnson is also the Director of Procurement.
The source further said that Minister Kruah has instructed the human resource department to hire 94 individuals, all of whom are kinsmen of the Minister.
Excerpt from the Ministry of Labor’s Communication: “Minister, it has been brought to our attention that you are planning to massively employ ninety-four (94) individuals to Civil Service positions that are already occupied. We have also learned further that all ninety-four (94) letters of appointment have already been prepared, awaiting the signature of the Acting Human Resource Director of the Ministry of Labour,” the communication said.
Recently, Minister Kruah appointed his kinsman, Darius K. Weenie, former Deputy Communication Director, to a new post of Deputy Inspector General for Administration within the Ministry. This post was non-existent until it was established by the Minister, in contravention of the Act establishing the Ministry of Labor, the Civil Service Standing Orders, and the Human Resource Management Policy Manual.
Accordingly, for a new post to be created, the Ministry of Labor needs to present the case at the Manpower Hearing at the Civil Service Agency, reflecting new positions for approval by the Director-General.
In the communication, the CSA said that there has been no such approval for the creation of Deputy Inspector General for Administration at the Ministry of Labor. “The Civil Service Agency is seriously concerned that Mr. Weemie is impersonating as Deputy Inspector General for Administration, citing business entities for conferences and carrying on illegal transactions in the name of the Government of Liberia,” the communication said.
Minister Kruah recently wrote a communication that bears the letterhead of the political party, Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) of VP Jeremiah Koung and Senator Prince Y. Johnson. In the letter dated March 5, 2024, Minister Kruah requested employment consideration for four individuals, describing them as “outstanding individuals” at the Civil Service Agency.
However, the CSA, in response, informed him that the Civil Service Agency, as an independent and non-partisan institution, does not do business with political parties. “Therefore, your request to consider the four individuals cannot be considered for employment purposes.”
The CSA, however, emphasized to Minister Kruah to reverse the illegal Human Resource transactions, urging the Ministry to effect Human Resource transactions consistent with the relevant laws and policies governing the Civil Service.
