Monrovia – Tears streamed down the faces of nine dismissed employees of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) as they expressed fears for their lives, claiming they have been attacked publicly by supporters of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, including state security officers.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972) – [email protected]
Alpha G. Gray, Foday M. Massaquoi, Richard Gabriel Singbeh, Ben B. Togbah, Jr., Boye Kokoi, Kendrick S. Pelenah, Yaya V. Sesay, and Henry Y. Sarlie were dismissed from the MCC on the orders of Civil Service Agency (CSA) boss Josiah Joekai. Joekai cited a “deadly social media campaign” targeting senior public officials, particularly President Joseph Boakai, as the reason for their termination.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Joekai claimed that the actions of the nine MCC employees had tarnished the reputation of the MCC.
“The Civil Service Agency (CSA) requests the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) to immediately relieve nine employees who have consistently engaged in dangerous and destructive social media campaigns against public officials, particularly targeting the President of Liberia,” Joekai stated.
He added, “These actions have caused significant harm to the reputation and image of the MCC. The negative portrayal of government officials by these unscrupulous employees has far-reaching effects on the individuals concerned and the government as a whole. Such unacceptable and sustained behavior on social media is incompatible with the status of the employees in question. Therefore, the MCC must consider terminating their services and promptly notify the CSA of this action.”
Despite the absence of due process, the nine MCC employees were dismissed on Joekai’s orders. One of the termination letters read: “Your employment service with the Monrovia City Corporation is hereby terminated with immediate effect. Said termination emanates from your consistent and deliberate action portrayed on social media by enraging insults at His Excellency Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr, President of the Republic of Liberia, and Government Officials including the Government of Liberia relentlessly without any regards for your official position at the Monrovia City Corporation.”
Reading a special statement on behalf of the group, Alpha Gray described the dismissal as illegal, asserting that they were terminated because they supported former President George Weah in the 2023 Presidential election, not because of any social media campaign.
Gray called on the religious community and the international community, including embassies accredited to Liberia, to hear their plea, adding that their lives and those of their families are in danger due to threats from supporters of the President and state security officers.
“The evidence of our message during the election is showing up at the pace of lightning, unfortunately with death threats from stooges of the regime who are allergic to dissenting opinions. While we are out of jobs and our families will be without sources of livelihood, we are forced to sleep in strange locations away from our homes due to fear for our lives at the behest of President Joseph Boakai,” Gray said.
He added, “The lives of our families are in danger with no recourse for protection because these death threats are sanctioned by the highest office of the land, which has all the security resources at its disposal. We are in dire need of assistance from the international community – our only hope of remaining alive.”
Gray emphasized, “Our lives and security are in grave danger after being unlawfully dismissed by the President. We are living in constant fear for our safety and well-being, unable to guarantee our security in Liberia. When our fellow citizens are after our lives, it is wise to seek help; the government and its operatives are after our lives. We have no option for safety.”
According to Gray, the fundamental human rights, freedom of speech, and equal opportunity guaranteed under Article 15 and Article 18 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, along with the Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act enacted into law in 2019, have been mercilessly violated by the Boakai administration.
“We have been targeted, silenced, and oppressed for daring to speak out against the injustices we have suffered under the Boakai-Koung regime. This attack on the judiciary branch of government has placed our democracy on the verge of political demise, leaving us in a state of helplessness and vulnerability,” he explained.
Gray concluded, “The pervasive fear of reprisals and violence sanctioned by the Boakai-Koung regime has forced us to live under extreme fear. The threat of potential harm or even death looms large, forcing us to live in a constant state of pandemonium. We are reminded of the grave history of the Executive Branch of Government for muzzling radical critics in Liberia.”
