By Bill W. Cooper
The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Emma Glasco, has come under serious scrutiny over her involvement in the witch hunting of the entity’s employees.
According to information, Madam Glasco has reportedly dismissed her driver for openly supporting President Joseph Boakai during the October 10, 2023 Presidential election, but the allegation has since been denied by her office.
Tamba Kamanda was allegedly dismissed by the NaFAA Boss for his political affiliation, a situation that has now sparked fear amongst employees of the entity, with some describing her action as a “witch hunt”.
It can be recalled that Madam Glasco, during the October 10, 2023 elections, openly supported former President George Weah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
Appointed by former President Weah in 2018 and later reappointed in 2022, after the expiration of her tenure, Glasco has been touted as one of the best leaders many employees in Liberia have admired, given her rebranding of the country’s fisheries sector.
But report had it that since the defeat of Weah to President Boakai of the Unity Party (UP), Madam Glasco has been singling out workers who supported Boakai, including Kamara Kamanda, who was previously her personal driver since her entry in government.
Explaining his ordeal, Kamanda said he was wrongfully dismissed by Madam Glasco without salary for revealing his connection to President Boakai, thus rejecting her instruction to support the CDC.
He said prior to his dismissal, Madam Glasco suspended him for time indefinite in October of 2023 without pay, citing that he abandoned his job to campaign for the UP and not the CDC.
According to him, all efforts exerted to explain to Madam Glasco concerning his absence from work, which he attributed to sickness, proved futile, as his dismissal was finalized in January 2024.
Kamanda indicated that he has, on several occasions, been threatened by Madam Glasco, where she has also, in times past, refused to settle his arrears on some occasions.
Meanwhile, Madam Glasco’s office, in a release issued yesterday, denied the allegation, stating that the driver was dismissed for unrelated reasons against the institutional policy.
According to the release signed by NaFAA Communication Director, Lewis Konoe, Tamba Kamanda was employed for barely five months and was dismissed on January 30, 2024 on the basis of physical attack on the vehicle of Madam Glasco.
Konoe noted, “This case was registered on December 4, 2023 at the Freeport Police Depot under Zone1. His actions violate section 3.0a and section 10.2e of the Human Resource Policy.
“Also, Mr. Kamanda was earlier suspended on August 28, 2023 due to inappropriate working habit, which contravened section 5.3a of NaFAA’s Human Resource policy with regards to the abandonment of post.
So, the termination came after continuous verbal and written notices, and warnings, in keeping with Section 18.0d as per the Human Resource Manual,” Konoe added.
