MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Former Assistant Minister for Information Services at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT), Matthew Nyanplu, has accused President Joseph Boakai’s administration of corruption and bad governance. In a Facebook post on Friday, December 13, 2024, Nyanplu alleged that the appointment of two consultants at MICAT, George Lobbo and Ekena Wesley, violated the administration’s much-publicized commitment to transparency and competitive recruitment under the National Consultancy Policy.
Nyanplu, a journalist, criticized what he described as the hypocrisy of the administration’s public pronouncements, contrasting them with its actions behind closed doors. According to him, the recruitment of consultants under the Boakai administration is not being conducted in line with the Civil Service Agency (CSA) guidelines, which mandate a competitive selection process. He suggested that both Lobbo and Wesley were “handpicked” based on political and personal connections rather than qualifications or merit.
He alleged that no public announcements or advertisements were made for the consultant positions at MICAT. This, he argued, contradicted the spirit of the National Consultancy Policy launched earlier this year, which promised transparent and competitive recruitment processes. Nyanplu further claimed that there were no interviews conducted for the positions, and that MICAT staff were simply informed of the appointments after the fact.
Nyanplu accused the CSA Director-General, Josiah Joekai, of failing to uphold the government’s stated policy. He alleged that President Boakai personally facilitated George Lobbo’s placement at MICAT, describing it as a temporary arrangement until Lobbo could secure a more important government appointment. Nyanplu expressed concerns that such practices undermined the credibility of the government’s reform agenda.
Ekena Wesley, he alleged, was appointed due to personal ties with the MICAT leadership. Nyanplu described Wesley as a close friend of the MICAT boss, Jerolinmek Matthew Piah who allegedly made the decision to bring Wesley onboard based on his availability rather than through a formal recruitment process. According to Nyanplu, the MICAT boss justified Wesley’s selection by describing him as “the greatest Liberian columnist,” even though no formal vetting process was conducted.
In his Facebook post, Nyanplu argued that these actions exemplified a broader trend of inconsistency within the administration. He stated that the government often says one thing in public but does another in practice, which he claimed was becoming a defining characteristic of the Boakai administration. He called on the administration to demonstrate greater integrity and transparency in public service, warning that such practices risk eroding public trust in governance.
Nyanplu’s comments quickly generated debate among Liberians, with some expressing support for his concerns while others questioned the motives behind his criticisms. The controversy highlights lingering concerns about whether the Boakai administration is living up to its promises of reform and accountability.
In response, the CSA Director-General, Josiah Joekai, issued a detailed statement on Saturday, December 14, 2024, titled A Professional Response to Mr. Matthew Nyanplu’s False Claims. In the letter, Joekai categorically denied the allegations and sought to clarify the facts surrounding the appointments of George Lobbo and Ekena Wesley.
Joekai stated that neither Lobbo nor Wesley was recruited under the Government of Liberia’s (GoL) Consultancy Program and that neither individual is on the GoL’s consultancy payroll. He emphasized that the CSA has no record of recruiting or deploying these individuals as consultants for MICAT or any other government institution.
The Director-General explained that since the launch of the National Consultancy Policy Guidelines in July 2024, the CSA has implemented significant reforms to ensure transparency and professionalism in the recruitment of consultants. These reforms include competitive selection processes, with a vetting committee comprising representatives from the CSA, the Ministry of Finance, and the hiring ministry or agency.
Joekai also highlighted the administration’s efforts to reduce the number of consultants employed by the government. Under the previous administration, the number of consultants had ballooned to over 1,000 in 2023, costing the government $6.1 million. In contrast, the current administration has reduced the number of consultants to just 94 in 2024, saving the government approximately $4.7 million.
He further explained that the reforms introduced by the Boakai administration ensure that consultants are compensated based on clearly defined deliverables and performance metrics, thereby eliminating waste and ensuring value for money. Joekai described Nyanplu’s claims as baseless and misleading, accusing him of undermining the government’s efforts to restore accountability and integrity to public service.
Joekai expressed disappointment that Nyanplu did not seek clarification from the CSA before making his allegations public. He argued that Nyanplu’s comments risk misleading the Liberian public and tarnishing the reputation of public institutions. Joekai reiterated the CSA’s commitment to transparency and professionalism, calling on all Liberians to verify information with the relevant authorities before making public statements.
The Director-General stated that the CSA remains open to engaging with concerned citizens and stakeholders to provide accurate information about its functions and operations. He encouraged Liberians to support the government’s reform efforts, emphasizing that the current administration is working to build a governance system that reflects the values of accountability and integrity.
