MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Emma Metieh-Glassco, the recently dismissed Director-General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the Government of Liberia, claiming reputational damage after her abrupt suspension. The lawsuit, which was filed on March 24, 2025, with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court, accuses the government of violating her rights, causing emotional trauma, and unlawfully removing her from office.
Metieh-Glassco, who served as Director-General from her appointment on February 15, 2022, until her suspension in February 2025, argues that the government did not follow due process in her dismissal. She states that the law mandates that her removal could only be executed for just cause and after a proper investigation. However, Metieh-Glassco’s legal counsel contends that the suspension was carried out without a fully constituted board, as required by the NaFAA Act, and without establishing a valid reason for her removal.
The lawsuit details multiple allegations, including the lack of a formal hearing or investigation, the violation of her contractual rights, and the failure of the Liberian government to adhere to the legal and constitutional requirements for her removal. Metieh-Glassco also claims that the government’s actions have caused her significant psychological and emotional distress, along with reputational harm.
According to her petition, the government’s decision to suspend her was based on an incomplete and improper investigation. She claims that the Board of Directors, which should have been legally constituted to investigate her conduct, was not in place. Instead, she was subjected to investigations by the Office of the Ombudsman, which allegedly did not follow proper procedures.
Metieh-Glassco further states that her suspension, and the subsequent public statements accusing her of corruption and other offenses, have led to public humiliation and the tarnishing of her professional reputation. She has requested that the ECOWAS Court compel the government to compensate her for the unexpired portion of her four-year contract, amounting to over $175,000, along with an additional $5 million for reputational damage and psychological distress.
The lawsuit also seeks punitive damages totaling $10 million, citing the financial hardships and public disgrace Metieh-Glassco has endured. As part of her legal request, she demands that the Liberian government retract all false statements and publications about her involvement in financial impropriety and issue a public apology.
In her legal complaint, Metieh-Glassco emphasises that her tenure as Director-General of NaFAA saw significant achievements, including organizing an international conference on maritime fisheries that brought global recognition to Liberia’s fishing industry. Despite this, she alleges that she was removed from office unjustly, without sufficient evidence to support the claims made against her.
Metieh-Glassco’s legal team argues that the unlawful suspension has severely impacted her personal and professional life and that the government’s actions are in direct violation of Liberia’s Constitution, which guarantees the protection of contractual rights and due process for public officials.
The case now rests with the ECOWAS Court, which has jurisdiction over human rights violations within its member states. Metieh-Glassco’s legal petition asserts that the government’s actions have violated not only national law but also international human rights principles, and she seeks compensation for the harm caused.
This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about the protection of public officials in Liberia and the due process of law when it comes to dismissals and investigations. The lawsuit further claims she was denied her salary, benefits, and legal entitlements. Glassco is represented by Toun-Ya Legal Consultancy and Arbitration Chambers LLC of Cllr. Kabineh Janeh in association with Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, Global Lead Counsel.
