MONROVIA, LIBERIA – President Joseph N. Boakai’s administration has begun compensating 700 additional staff members from the Ministry of State who were let go recently. These employees, who were seen as burdening the ministry, are collecting their payments at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville.
Initially hired by the Coalition for Democratic Change government, which was defeated by the Unity Party in the 2023 general and presidential elections, these 700 staff members had been on the government’s supplementary payroll for six years. The current administration under President Boakai pointed to their irregular attendance, improper hiring practices, and overcrowding as the reasons for their termination.
On Monday, Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana told reporters at the Executive Mansion that even though these employees officially ended their service on March 31, 2024, they would be compensated for the months of January through April. Fofana described this as a compassionate move by the government, highlighting a unique compensation package.
To ensure accuracy, a vetting committee has been put in place to authenticate the employment details of these individuals. “The vetting team is scrutinizing their employment records and identification cards,” said Fofana. She also pointed out that not all of the 700 former employees would be paid, citing mismatches between their ID cards and salary data from the previous government, as well as uncertainty about their roles.
During the payment process, Fofana shared that some employees were surprised to learn their actual salaries, as some had been receiving only half of their rightful pay, approximately US$60.00. “Some were unaware of their true earnings during the previous administration until this current payment review,” she remarked.
