MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has called for the immediate suspension of Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) officials implicated in a growing corruption scandal, pending a full investigation. The demand was made during a press conference held on Monday, April 21, 2025, at CENTAL’s headquarters in Monrovia, where the organization expressed grave concerns over recent revelations of alleged financial misconduct within the education sector.
CENTAL’s Executive Director, Anderson D. Miamen, said mounting reports on social and traditional media have implicated senior MCSS officials, including Superintendent James A.S. Momoh, in serious acts of corruption and financial mismanagement. Intelligence gathered by the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) uncovered what appears to be a fraudulent insurance scheme and misuse of scholarship funds meant for teachers.
According to findings from the FIA, one MCSS employee, Sonita Dangan Dangan, reportedly received over 8 million Liberian dollars in checks from Kabineh Keita, allegedly affiliated with Sky Insurance, the company contracted to provide services to MCSS. The FIA said there was no traceable business relationship between the two, prompting suspicion of a fraudulent transaction. In addition, reports suggest that MCSS administrators charged US$920 per teacher for a government-sponsored study abroad program in India, even though the cost had already been covered by the state.
“These allegations are deeply troubling, particularly for a sector that is already under-resourced and grappling with infrastructure, staffing, and capacity challenges,” Miamen said. He warned that failure to take timely and appropriate administrative actions could erode public trust, fuel impunity, and undercut the government’s anti-corruption drive. CENTAL has appealed to President Joseph Boakai to suspend the accused officials while the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) conducts a full and independent probe.
Meanwhile, CENTAL welcomed the involvement of the LACC and FIA in the renewed operations of the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce. The Taskforce was reconstituted in March 2025 after the expiration of Executive Order 126, which had initially established the group a year earlier. The original version of the task force had been widely criticized for its oversized composition, political undertones, and lack of tangible results.
In response to public criticism, President Boakai made substantial adjustments to the structure and mandate of the Taskforce. The new five-member body has been tasked with collaborating directly with the LACC, the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia Revenue Authority, the FIA, and the Office of the Ombudsman. CENTAL praised the new approach as more cost-effective and structurally sound, noting that the leaner team would not only reduce government spending but also improve coordination and efficiency.
“This is a welcome shift from the politically entangled and poorly coordinated structure of 2024,” Miamen noted. He urged the Taskforce to exercise transparency and political neutrality in carrying out its mandate. CENTAL further encouraged the body to engage with civil society, the media, and ordinary citizens to enhance public confidence and bolster its effectiveness.
As the fight against corruption intensifies, CENTAL also emphasized the need for adequate funding and institutional independence for the Taskforce and all integrity institutions. The organization pledged its full cooperation in supporting anti-graft efforts and urged the Boakai administration to remain steadfast in confronting Liberia’s longstanding culture of impunity.
