MONROVIA – Smart News Liberia has received information from a source suggesting serious concerns of witch-hunting within the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC).
The source alleges that Mayor John Charuk-Siafa and his associates have primarily focused on violating the Decent Work Act.
Enacted in 2015 by the 53rd Legislature, the Decent Work Act aims to protect workers’ fundamental rights, labor institutions, and administration. It includes provisions on recruitment, termination, minimum conditions of employment, workers’ compensation, industrial relations, and employment agencies.
According to the source, this harassment has reportedly instilled fear among employees at MCC who were hired during the administration of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
Furthermore, there have been reports of the unlawful dismissal of other senior staff members at MCC under John Charuk-Saifa’s leadership. It’s noteworthy that Mayor John Charuk-Siafa is related to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, which raises questions about potential influences behind these alleged actions.
The source also claims that the City Planning Manager at MCC, Melvin Brown, had his phone confiscated, reportedly on the orders of Mayor John Charuk-Siafa. However, the reason for this action was not provided by the source.
Additionally, the source claims that Mayor Charuk-Siafa has initiated Mr. Brown’s dismissal, scheduled for Monday, April 21st, 2024, without providing any justification to the Human Resources office for Brown’s dismissal.
When contacted by Smart News Liberia, Melvin Brown declined to comment, indicating that he would only address the matter after consulting with his lawyer.
The source did not specify whether Charuk-Siafa’s actions were aimed at removing former members of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). During his tenure, the former Mayor, Jefferson Koijee, who is now the Secretary General of CDC, reportedly hired a significant number of CDC supporters at MCC.
These allegations highlight serious concerns about the governance and management practices at MCC. Transparency, fairness, and due process should be upheld by any organization, especially a public entity.
“As the issue of accumulating garbage on Monrovia’s streets continues to grow, there are increasing calls for Mayor John Charuk-Siafa to prioritize clearing the garbage in the city and its surroundings,” the source stated.
Despite attempts to contact Mayor John Charuk-Siafa, all efforts have been unsuccessful as his mobile phone rings endlessly.
