By Bill W. Cooper
Jane Macauley has shockingly tendered an immediate resignation as Director-General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL).
In her letter of resignation addressed to President Joseph Boakai, McCauley recounted her achievements under her four-year leadership, including recognition from the Africa Center for Disease Control and a robust COVID-19 response.
She cited persistent challenges and a hostile working environment as reasons for her departure, noting that her resignation was due to a lack of operational funding, unprofessional conduct by the Board Chair, and strained relations with officials of the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The NPHIL former boss expressed disappointment over the Board’s actions, including a planned meeting during her leave and rumors of her imminent replacement without her knowledge.
Macauley also detailed several critical issues, such as the Board Chair exceeding his scope of work, creating a toxic working environment, and the lack of cooperation from the Minister of Health, among other issues.
She further revealed alleged attempts to undermine her leadership, including unfounded claims and coordination issues, stating that despite these challenges, she secured vital grants and partner support, keeping NPHIL operational despite government funding gaps.
Macauley asserted that she also achieved notable milestones such as establishing a sequencing lab, training internationally accredited biosafety cabinet engineers, and overseeing the construction of a state-of-the-art laboratory and administrative building.
However, if Madam MaCauley’s resignation is accepted, she will now be among several tenured position holders to have either resigned or been sacked since the ascendency of Boakai as President.
She was appointed in 2020, replacing Dr. Mosoka Fallah following his dismissal by former President George Weah for involving in similar issues.
Meanwhile, it has also been established by the Inquirer Newspaper that Madam MaCauley has been actively involved in campaigning and political activities which is in total violation of the Code of Conduct and code of ethics of those in tenure positions.
NPHIL was officially established by the NPHI Act of 2016, signed into law by the President in January 2017, and this law was passed quickly, to address the weaknesses in public health observed during Liberia’s response to the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak.
Even though there is no specific provision that prohibits the Director General of NPHIL from getting involved in political activities, Part IV-Section 4.5a of the Act says the Director General shall serve for a term of five years. He or she will be eligible for reappointment once the Act establishes the NPHIL.
He/she may voluntarily resign by submitting a letter of resignation to the President, provided that he or she gives two months’ notice before the date of his or her resignation, as the Director General shall be suspended by the President for cause upon the recommendation of a vote by two-thirds majority of the members of the Board.
Also, the NPHIL DG shall be removed if found to be grossly inefficient; found to be corrupt; convicted of any crime by a competent tribunal consistent with due process of law; or no longer able to perform the duties due to physical or mental incapacity, as certified by a qualified psychiatrist or medical doctor.
Others are if it is discovered that a member has at any time been convicted of an offense involving dishonesty, whether in Liberia or elsewhere, and sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine; or no longer a domicile in Liberia.
According to information in possession of the Inquirer Newspaper, MaCauley has frequently used NPHIL facilities for political rallies and has distributed CDC party T-shirts, among other activities.
Also, a video circulating on social media showed Madam MaCauley dressed in her all-white party regalia, dancing and celebrating along with a partisan during a CDC rally before she resigned from the entity.
