By Bill W. Cooper
President Joseph Boakai, with immediate effect, suspended the Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Emma Metieh-Glassco, amid corruption controversy at the entity.
DG Glassco’s suspension, according to the President, is based on a recommendation by the NAFAA Board of Directors, thus pending further investigations by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
In a communication to Madam Glassco, the President outlined the Board’s resolution, which calls for her suspension due to ‘managerial and financial inefficiencies’, noting that the recommendation is under Section 3.9.2 of the Act that established the Authority.
In an Executive Mansion release, Boakai also referenced a communication from the Office of the Ombudsman, which recommended Madam Glassco’s suspension and investigation based on allegations of ‘insulting behavior’.
This conduct, the President said, is being considered unbecoming of a public official, and was reportedly exhibited during an official investigation meeting, disclosing that the Ombudsman’s recommendation is based on Section 11.10 of the Code of Conduct Act.
President Boakai, at the same time, urged the suspended Director General, Emma Metieh-Glassco, to fully cooperate with the investigations to address the concerns being raised.
Meanwhile, Madam Glassco’s suspension has since ignited a heated debate among Liberians, with many describing the action by the President as politically motivated and a witch-hunt, which they believed has been in the corridors since the inception of the Unity Party regime.
Madam Glassco, who has held the position since her appointment in 2018, has been a prominent figure in Liberia’s fisheries sector but, in the latter stages of her leadership, has faced numerous challenges, including allegations of mismanagement and financial irregularities.
Madam Glassco has also come under serious criticism from the public over her visible involvement in political activities during the 2023 Presidential election, despite holding a tenured position and being in total violation of the Code of Conduct and the Act establishing NaFAA.
She was also accused of mismanagement of funds from the World Bank, intended for the improvement and upgrading of the country’s fisheries sector, which is believed to be a potential sector for the country’s economic growth.
As a result, the entity’s Worker Association, on May 7, 2024, further declared a vote of no confidence in Madam Glassco’s leadership, called for immediate dismissal, as well as ensuring that donors cut off all transactions with her.
Meanwhile, while some citizens and stakeholders in the fisheries sector have welcomed the suspension as a step towards accountability, others have expressed outrage, labelling the action as politically motivated.
Many supporters of Madam Glassco argue that her suspension is part of a broader pattern of political witch-hunts targeting women in leadership positions, including those believed to be supporters of former President George Weah.
One of NaFAA’s employees, who spoke based on anonymity, said, “I believe this is a political move to undermine a strong woman in a key position because Emma has been a champion for sustainable fishing practices and has worked tirelessly to improve the livelihoods of our fishermen. So, this suspension is an attack on her character and her work.”
Stanley Johnson, a fisherman who was seen at the entrance of NaFAA following the suspension, also pointed to the timing of the decision, which comes just a day following the distribution of some equipment to the AFL as well as items given to them as fishermen.
He added, “For me, this suspension is not about accountability; it’s about silencing dissent and removing anyone who poses a threat to this current administration, whether you are qualified to do the work or not, and this scaring for our country’s growth.”
Another pressure group calling themselves CDC-COP has also argued that the president’s actions are often selective and politically motivated and noted, “It is now clear that the government is targeting individuals who do not align or support the UP.”
“They have been targeting Madam Glassco for a long time since the inauguration of President Boakai, so today’s action is not strange because we expected this. It might just create a culture of fear and discourage honest governance and accountability,” the group added.
All efforts exerted to hear from the suspended NaFAA Boss proved futile as her phone rang endlessly without answer despite numerous calls placed to her both off and online by our reporter.
Meanwhile, the suspension of Emma Glassco is not an isolated incident but rather part of a larger narrative surrounding governance and accountability in Liberia, a country which has a long history of political instability and corruption, that has hindered its development and eroded public trust in government institutions.
President Boakai, who assumed office in January 2024, has made it a priority to address issues of corruption and mismanagement within the government, as his administration has launched several initiatives aimed at promoting transparency and accountability, including the recent suspension of several government officials.
