President Joseph Boakai has, with immediate effect, relieved Carmerna Cephas Yeke from the position of Deputy Director General of the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), on accounts of reported ‘gross insubordination’ to the Office of the President.
According to an Executive Mansion release issued on Thursday March 21, 2024, Madam Yeke failed to adhere to some high standards of conduct expected of a public servant, and said action resulted in her immediate removal from the post.
The release stressed that the Liberian leader expressed appreciation to the dismissed NASSCORP official for her service to the Corporation, but noted that he cannot tolerate any behavior that goes against the best interest of the country.
“The President assures the public that the decision has been made with utmost confidence and in the best interest of the Corporation,” the release is quoted.
It furthered that the President assured the public that he remains committed to upholding the principles of integrity and accountability in all aspects of governance, and will continue to ensure that public servants adhere to the highest standards of conduct.
Madam Yeke’s dismissal comes in the wake of alarming reports about an illegal turnover that was intended to take place at the entity, which she failed to allow top officials of the government and the Unity Party (UP) take over the office of her boss, the Director General, Dewitt vonBallmoos.
According to multiple reports, Cllr. Moiffie Kanneh was stopped from taking over the office of NASSCORP by the principal Deputy to Director vonBallmoos, after he was escorted by UP and Government officials.
Those denied of taking over of NASSCORP by the dismissed Deputy DG, on accounts that there was no communication issued to the entity by the President, are Bong and Gbarpolu Counties’ Senators, Prince Moye and Botoe Kanneh, UP Chairman, Luther Tarpeh, and Commerce Minister, Amin Modad.
According to the report, on the day of the incident, the officials of government, along with the Officer in Charge-designate, were ushered into the conference room of the entity where the meeting was being held, and the UP team stated they were at the office to witness the taking over of Cllr. Kanneh as the Officer in Charge, based on the appointment of President Boakai.
Madam Yeke, in her capacity as principal Deputy to the Director General, Dewitt vonBallmoos, abruptly adjourned the senior staff meeting and began to call the Director General, during which time Senator Prince Moye and Unity Party Chairman, Luther Tarpeh, pleaded with her to drop the call and have a conversation with them.
After dropping the call with Dewitt vonBallmoos, she then informed the team, including Cllr. Moiffie Kanneh, that her boss told her that he did not receive any communication from the Executive Mansion concerning Cllr. Kanneh’s appointment as Officer in Charge at NASSCORP, and even asked that if they wanted her to put a phone on speaker for them to hear for themselves, she was prepared to do so. But Senator Moye and Chairman Tarpeh said that was not important at the moment.
Sadly, in a disappointing tone, Senator Prince Moye and Chairman Luther Tarpeh asked “Is it the right procedure you want us to follow?” And when Madam Yeke responded, they walked out.
