Abuja, Nigeria – The Director General of Liberia’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Emma Metieh Glassco, has taken legal action against the Liberian government at the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Glassco is challenging her indefinite suspension, arguing that it amounts to unlawful removal from office and violates her fundamental rights.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com

The lawsuit lists the Republic of Liberia as the respondent and is brought under various legal frameworks, including the ECOWAS Court Protocol, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the Liberian Constitution.

Former Associate Justice Cllr. Kabineh Ja’neh is representing Glassco in the lawsuit. Glassco’s suspension in February followed allegations of financial and administrative mismanagement at NAFAA. Minister of Information Jerolinmek Piah confirmed the suspension, stating it was based on recommendations from NAFAA’s Board, which accused Glassco of violating the institution’s laws. Additionally, the Office of the Ombudsman raised concerns about Glassco’s leadership style, calling it “insultive,” which reportedly influenced President Boakai’s decision to suspend her.

Allegations Against the Liberian Government

However, Glassco claims that her suspension, initiated through a letter dated February 12, 2025, was conducted without due process, violating Article 20(a) of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution. According to her, the NaFAA Act guarantees a fixed four-year tenure for the Director General, and her removal was unlawful since there was no properly constituted Board of Directors to validate the decision.

She further alleges that she has been subjected to public humiliation, intimidation, and politically motivated investigations by various state agencies, including the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the Ministry of Justice. Additionally, Glassco argues that her suspension has deprived her of legally mandated salaries and benefits for the remainder of her tenure.

Claims and Compensation Sought

As part of the legal action, Glassco is requesting the ECOWAS Court to order the Liberian government to pay her $175,000 in damages for lost salary and benefits for the remainder of her tenure, declare her suspension as unlawful and a violation of tenure protections, award her $5 million in compensation for professional and psychological damage caused by her removal and $10 million in restitution for reputational harm, emotional distress, and public humiliation.

In addition, Glassco is seeking the Ecowas Court to order the removal of all government-issued publications alleging financial misconduct against her, demand a public apology from the government, to be published in national newspapers and aired on radio and television, cover her legal expenses, estimated at $250,000.

Legal Arguments

Glassco’s legal team argues that her suspension violates her contractual rights and tenure protections under the NaFAA Act. They also claim that the government’s actions breach multiple human rights provisions under international law, including the right to fair treatment, due process, and protection against unlawful deprivation of property.

The lawsuit also highlights procedural flaws, including the absence of a fully constituted NaFAA Board to lawfully recommend her suspension. Glassco contends that state agencies were mobilized against her without clear legal justifications, subjecting her to undue harassment.

ECOWAS Court Jurisdiction

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has jurisdiction over human rights violations within member states. Glassco’s legal team asserts that the case qualifies for adjudication under Articles 9(4) and 10(d) of the ECOWAS Protocol, which allow individuals to bring cases against their governments when national remedies are inadequate.

Potential Implications

This high-profile case could have significant implications for governance in Liberia, particularly regarding the security of tenure for appointed officials. A ruling in favor of Glassco could set a legal precedent for officials challenging dismissals and suspensions deemed politically motivated.

The Liberian government has not yet issued an official response to the lawsuit. However, analysts say the case is expected to draw attention from legal experts, political analysts, and international human rights organizations monitoring governance and judicial processes in the ECOWAS region.

The ECOWAS Court is expected to schedule a hearing in the coming weeks to determine the admissibility of the case and begin legal proceedings.

Monrovia – The Liberian Fisheries Authority Director General has officially launched a new fisheries project in Monrovia with a call to the European Union to support the University of Liberia Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences Department to further enhance and strengthen the knowledge gap.

Speaking Tuesday, August 20, 2024, as the Key launcher during the grand launch of an EU-financed project, the Liberia Fisheries Governance Project (LFGP) at a local hotel in Monrovia Madam Emma Metieh Glassco urged the European Union to consider strengthening the human resources capacity of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department at the University of Liberia in its future agenda.

“We will need additional support for that program from the European Union” Madam Glassco messaged the European Union through its Ambassador who was also part of the ceremony.

At the same time Madam Glassco on behalf of the government of Liberia commended the European Union for what she termed as its strong support to the Liberian Fisheries sector over the past few years.

She disclosed that the European Union is currently supporting the Liberian Fisheries sector with five of its fisheries experts to enhance and strengthen the governance system of the sector, describing the EU as one of Liberia’s strategic partners in the fisheries sector. She also disclosed that the EU has provided technical and sectorial support to the sector.

Speaking earlier the European Union Ambassador accredited to Liberia and the head of Delegation of the European Union to Liberia mentioned that fisheries are a priority sector for both the Government of Liberia and the European Union at the global level, with the European Green Deal and its Farm to fork strategy.

“Fisheries are a priority sector for both the Government of Liberia and the European Union — at the global level, with the European Green Deal and its Farm to Fork Strategy, and at the Delegation level, with dedicated bilateral programs and our TEI on Safe and Sustainable Food Systems”

Ambassador Nona Deprez noted that currently, the Liberian Fisheries sector which provides full or part-time employment for about 37,000 people, 60% of whom are women contributes to approximately 10% of the country’s GDP, and is an important driver for improved nutrition, with about 65% of animal protein consumed in Liberia coming from fish 80 % for the coastal population.

Moreover, Ambassador Deprez mentioned several challenges that threatened to hinder the sector’s development citing climate change as the first. She named sea level rise, coastal flooding, pelagic seaweed invasion, and more frequent, severe, and unpredictable extreme weather events directly threaten Liberia’s coastal population. The EU Ambassador to Liberian also stated that rising ocean temperature, acidification, and current changes affect the quantity and distribution of the fish species.

“Climate change is the first. Sea level rise, coastal flooding, pelagic seaweed invasion, and more frequent, severe and unpredictable extreme weather events directly threaten Liberia’s coastal population. Furthermore, rising ocean temperature, acidification, and current changes affect the quantity and distribution of the fish species”.

At the same time, she pointed out that illegal industrial trawlers within Liberian territorial waters pose another serious challenge to growth in the Liberian Fisheries.

Ambassador Deprez acknowledged that with the new fisheries project, the EU would strengthen the Liberian fisheries sector’s democratic governance and accountability by enhancing the capacities of civil society organizations and the media to safeguard the rights and livelihoods of all fisher folks.

The EU Ambassador further stressed that the importance of involving local fishing communities’ men and women in the fisheries decision-making process cannot be stressed enough.

She noted that local media and CSOs can help promote the collaborativemanagement association (CMA) approach to enhance inclusive resource governance and advocate for the safeguarding of the rights of fisher folks, in particular women, youth, and other marginalized people.

Commenting further the EU Ambassador pointed out that strong political commitment and engagement are needed to secure positive economic and social developments in the fisheries sector, emphasizing that the role of NaFAA will be crucial to enhance awareness of the CMA model among the target CSOs and to support the CSOs in the dissemination of information of the CMA model.

Also speaking at the ceremony was the Environmental Justice Foundation Program Officer Augustine Fayiah who highlighted the critical role his entity has played over the last few years in enhancing and strengthening the fisheries sector through the establishment of the Core Management Association in four counties namely Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Grand Bassa and Grand Kru.

Mr. Fayiah said the EU-funded Communities for Fisheries Project’s specific objective is to reduce illegal fishing and improve the sustainability of fisheries by expanding and strengthening community co-management associations, creating effective capacity for community monitoring and reporting of illegal fishing.

He said EJF has supported the establishment of 7 CMAs in Liberia covering four coastal counties, including Grand Bassa, Margibi, Grand Kru, and Grand Cape Mount, and set up 32 Village Saving Loan Associations, VSLA.

He concluded his comments by stating that EJF is excited about the potential of the EU-funded Liberia Fisheries Governance project implemented by CERATH and its partners, noting that as two EU-funded projects, both authorities can work together to amplify impact and collectively improve fisheries governance and secure coastal community livelihood.

Monrovia – The Director General of the National Fishery and Aquaculture Authority (NAFAA), Emma Glassco, says she will not quit her job as head of the entity unless an investigation is conducted to determine whether she contravened the institution’s laws or not.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)-websterclayeh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Madam Glassco made this assertion at a meeting with members of the House Committee on Maritime, Agriculture, Mines, and Energy at NAFAA’s headquarters on Monday.

The team of lawmakers, headed by Montserrado County District 10 Representative Frank Saah Foko, as part of their oversight responsibility, expressed concern about the increasing attacks and protests at NAFAA’s office.

Recently, Madam Glassco has faced several allegations, including illegal dismissals, among others.

In response to the lawmakers, Madam Glassco stated that the attacks against her are not devoid of politics, urging the Senate to investigate. “I’m equally concerned about these growing multiple octopus attacks on my person. I urge this honorable body to recommend to the Senate to establish a committee to investigate because it could be politically motivated or based on some political interest,” she said.

Madam Glassco added, “For example, why were these concerns not raised in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, or 2022, but are being raised now? That is my concern. So, I believe that I am being unfairly treated by those who want this job.”

She told the lawmakers that the level of work she and her team have done at NaFAA has garnered significant attention, leading her to believe that criticism against her is motivated by personal interests. “I believe that with the attention brought to the sector, people are eyeing the post, thinking it is an easy win,” Madam Glassco said.

“For me, I don’t care much; we just have to do the right thing. Look at what happened at the Ministry of Defense and the EPA. Is the same thing they want to happen to NaFAA? You just create instability, then you demand resignation. I will not do that; let us go through due process, and I will leave at the appropriate time, but not abruptly or through coercion.”

Speaking further, Madam Glassco emphasized that it is not her right to serve as Director General of NaFAA; rather, she stressed that it was a privilege to serve her country, adding that there is a life beyond NaFAA. “No one is clinging to this job; let me make it clear. It is simply the opportunity to serve. I am not clinging to it. But I think the most trending method to remove people from office is to incite violence, tarnish the image or reputation of the institution, create an unpleasant working environment, and then demand resignation. That will not be the case with me. I will not resign under these circumstances,” she said.

Madam Glassco added, “I want fair justice as well. I want people to investigate these matters to see if I have done anything illegal, and then I will avail myself to whatever consequences may arise. But simply to exert pressure and demand my unceremonious removal is not fair to me. If the senior executive decides to call me to the table at any time, why not? I would rather not force myself to work with a government that lacks confidence in me.”

Madam Glassco remarked that the same people who praised her yesterday are now criticizing her. According to her, she oversees over 200 staff across the country. However, she was surprised to see a few people calling for her removal. “Do they represent a two-thirds majority against me, or are just a handful of people influencing these staff? The recent protest was led by nine individuals. Some of them had their contracts not renewed due to financial constraints, not for personal reasons. So, in order to clear my name of any allegations, I believe there should be a committee to investigate any allegations against me,” she said.