By Grace Q. Bryant
The Executive Director of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Emmanuel Yarkpawolo, has exposed severe financial discrepancies and institutional challenges inherited by the agency under his leadership.
The EPA boss spoke on Spoon Talk on December 21, 2024, revealing that upon assuming office in February 2024, the EPA’s actual bank balance was just $325 USD, despite a reported balance of $17,723.54 USD as of December 2023.
The financial shortfall highlights concerns about mismanagement within the previous administration, raising questions about the EPA’s oversight and accountability practices over the past six years.
Director Yarkpawolo further detailed the lack of critical financial documentation, including bank statements and financial reports from January 2018 to December 2023, as well as payroll and personnel records.
“The absence of these records limits our ability to analyze past financial decisions, identify gaps, and effectively plan for the future,” Dr. Yarkpawolo stated.
He underscored the difficulty in tracing financial activities under the agency’s previous leadership, leaving significant questions unanswered about the use of public funds.
According to him, the findings of the Joint Presidential Transition Team (JPTT) further revealed that the EPA had made limited progress on its Five-Year Strategic Plan (2022-2026), with only 20% of the agenda completed.
The lack of prioritization for environmental issues, EPA Yarkpawolo noted, has hindered the agency’s ability to effectively address Liberia’s pressing environmental challenges.
“This limited progress reflects a broader lack of commitment to sustainable development, which is critical for Liberia’s future,” he added.
Since officially assuming office on May 4, 2024, Dr. Yarkpawolo and his team have made significant strides to address the inherited challenges.
He disclosed that over the past eight months the EPA has collected over US$200,000 in fines deposited into central government revenue and conducted over 350 compliance inspections and issued more than 60 environmental permits.
He added that the institution has identified 170 cases of non-compliance, resolving over 20 of them and issued 15 fines, four halt orders, and two restoration directives.
He noted further, the entity has been able to overhaul its financial management system aimed at improving transparency and accountability, established six new regional offices to enhance service delivery and improved employee welfare through salary and pension increases and capacity-building initiatives.
Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust in the EPA, both internally and externally. He called for stronger financial oversight mechanisms to prevent future discrepancies and pledged to make accountability a cornerstone of the agency’s operations.
“Rebuilding trust starts with transparency. We are committed to ensuring that every dollar entrusted to the EPA is used effectively to protect Liberia’s environment and promote sustainable development,” he said.
The Executive Director also appealed for increased collaboration with international partners, civil society organizations, and government institutions to strengthen the EPA’s capacity and enhance its ability to deliver on its environmental mandate.
Yarkpawolo expressed optimism for the future, outlining plans to restore the agency’s credibility and ensure the protection of Liberia’s environment for future generations.
“This is a new beginning for the EPA. Together, we can achieve sustainable development and protect Liberia’s natural heritage,” he concluded.
