Doloquee
The House of Representatives has taken decisive action by summoning the Managing Director and Board Members of the National Port Authority (NPA) following reports of the arbitrary dismissal of 10 employees. Plenary has demanded that the NPA management provide detailed explanations for the termination of these employees.
The NPA Management recently announced the dismissal of these employees, citing financial improprieties and administrative reasons. It further stated that it had notified law enforcement agencies for possible prosecution, cautioning the public against engaging in any business dealings with these former employees.
Among those dismissed were Gabriel S. Bull, Vakumah Dukuly, Logan David, Sabato Dennis, Christian Brownell, Terrence Doe, Pewee S Flomoku, Patrick Sumo, Civicus Barsi-Giah, and P. Martin Zayzay, who held various positions within the entity.
The summoning of Sekou A.M. Dukuly, Managing Director of NPA, Rev. Luther Tarpeh, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and other management team members today, 18th March 2024, stems from the House’s decision during last Thursday’s Plenary session.
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This decision was prompted by a communication from Montserrado County Electoral District 17 Representative Bernard Blue Benson, Jr., who expressed concerns over the sudden termination of the 10 staff members by the NPA.
Rep. Benson highlighted that according to the termination notices, the employees were dismissed based on specific provisions outlined in the NPA handbook. However, he raised questions about the lack of due process and investigation surrounding their terminations.
As the Chairman of the House’s Committee on Information, Broadcast, and Tourism, Rep. Benson urged his colleagues to thoroughly investigate the matter to provide clarity to the people of Liberia, especially concerning the mass terminations within the first 100 days of the Boakai administration.
Additionally, it was revealed that the internal investigation leading to the dismissals was prompted by the discovery of vouchers showing substantial sums of money disbursed by the NPA to the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) during the recent election campaign. These vouchers, totaling six, each amounting to US$9,500, were issued for various communities on July 17, 2023.
