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By: Emmanuel Wise Jipoh
Monrovia, Liberia; July 4, 2025 – Several employees of the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) have staged a go-slow in response to the recent suspension of Director-General Christopher D. Sankolo.
The go-slow followed a series of political maneuverings allegedly by Deputy Minister of State Without Portfolio for Special Services, Samuel Stequoah, and President Boaka’s long-time secretary, Ms. Morine Yaude Nemah.
An insider stated that the suspension is also in response to corruption claims made by LACRA Deputy Director General for Operations and Technical Services, Godia Alpha Kortu Gongolee, against Mr. Sankolo, who had taken action to curb cocoa smuggling, an activity that has deprived the entity of its rightful revenue.
The employees’ go-slow started recently when Mr. Gongolee alleged at the LACRA exporters’ warehouses that Mr. Samuel Stevquoah and Morine Yaude Nemah informed him that the Board of Directors had recommended to President Boakai for his removal, but the Board, Sankolo, and employees will be surprised when the President removes them.
Some LACRA employees, who spoke to the New Dawn, said Mr. Gongolee’s statement led to the suspension of Director-General Sankolo, something they noted clearly contradicts the Board’s recommendations and validates that indeed, Mr. Stevquoah and Nemah, rather than the Board or the Ministry of Agriculture, control LACRA.
Speaking further to the New Dawn, one employee said, “It is no secret that every time Alpha comes to work and sees any of us, he will tell us that you will soon know who owns LACRA..
I am just from the Mansion, and it is just a matter of time for me to become the new director general.’’
The protesting employees believe that instead of the Minister of Agriculture having oversight over LACRA, Mr. Stevquoah has been exerting influence over the entity.
According to them, Mr. Stevquoah and Mr. Morine Yaude Nemah have been using their presidential connections to orchestrate campaigns against senior officials, including Sankolo.
It is alleged that they intended to manipulate findings of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to exonerate Gongolee…
The employees stated that dossiers of documents have been submitted to LACC, but that they are yet to make any progress in inviting Alpha or witnesses.
They expressed outrage over what they described as a politically motivated witch-hunt against Sankolo and Garley.
“We are calling on the President to review the circumstances surrounding these suspensions; this is about more than just two individuals; it touches on systemic corruption that needs to be addressed”, another employee said.
Furthermore, revelations have emerged regarding Nemah placing a phone call to Mr. Darlington Smith, Deputy Director-General of the Human Resources Department at the Civil Service Agency (CSA), instructing him to immediately halt an ongoing investigation into some staff in the office of Mr. Gongolee.
The go-slow has united employees, who have demanded the immediate dismissal of Gongolee, whom they accuse of being the primary architect of corruption at LACRA.
Workers alleged that Gongolee has been leveraging his position for personal gain, including investments in projects tied to Nemah’s farm in Todee District, Montserrado County.
According to them, Gongolee’s unusual schedule—spending three days a week at Nemah’s farm and just two at LACRA- highlights a troubling conflict of interest.
“This is not just about the future of LACRA; it’s about the integrity of agriculture in Liberia,” another employee stated. “We need leadership that acts in the best interest of our country, not for personal gain.”
As the go-slow continues and frustrations grow among the staff, the Agency’s operations have been disrupted, raising concerns about the impact on Liberia’s agricultural sector.
Stakeholders are calling for immediate intervention from government to address the turmoil and restore accountability within the regulatory body.
Meanwhile, as the situation at LACRA unfolds, it remains to be seen how President Boakai will respond to the growing chorus of discontent among employees there.
