By Grace Q. Bryant
The House of Representatives has summoned the management of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), along with executives from West Africa Forestry Development Inc. (WAFDI) and L&S Resource to address their failure to enforce and uphold social agreements tied to forestry operations.
The decision was prompted by a communication from Grand Bassa County District 2 Representative Clarence Banks, who highlighted ongoing violations by the two companies.
Representative Banks noted that since March 2024, he had informed the FDA Managing Director, Rudolph Merab, about WAFDI and L&S Resource Inc.’s noncompliance, which has resulted in financial losses for the government.
“The two companies have operated in my district for over five years without fulfilling their social obligations,” Banks stated in his communication.
These commitments includes the construction of multiple kilometers of farm-to-market roads, the establishment of three primary schools, the establishment of two clinics, the payment of all salary arrears and the installation of multiple hand pumps.
The House’s Agriculture Committee investigation confirmed those allegations, further revealing that employees of the companies have gone unpaid for over 18 months. Despite repeated efforts to resolve the matter, no meaningful action has been taken.
According to him, the embattled Speaker, Fonati Koffa, previously assigned Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah to oversee the case and engage the involved parties, including FDA Managing Director Merab, WAFDI General Manager, Augustine Johnson, L&S Resource Inc. Black Manager Alex Nynley, and Representative Banks.
Earlier, a meeting was scheduled on July 16, 2024, in Deputy Speaker Fallah’s office but, representatives from WAFDI and L&S Resource Inc. failed to appear.
Despite being instructed to organize a resolution meeting within two weeks, FDA’s Managing Director has yet to follow through; eight months later.
Now, the House is summoning Director Merab, the Deputy Managing Director for Operations Gertrude Nynley, WAFDI’s General Manager Johnson, and L&S Resource Inc. Manager Nynley to appear tomorrow, next Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Their testimony is expected to clarify why the companies have failed to meet their commitments and why the FDA has not enforced compliance.
