MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Aquaculture Authority Workers Association (NaFAAWA) has made a bold move by calling for an investigation into the actions of NaFAA Director General, Madam Emma Glassco. The association has expressed serious concerns over what they perceive as dictatorial and overbearing behavior by Madam Glassco, hindering the progress of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) in Liberia.
According to NaFAAWA, Madam Glassco has consistently disregarded the advice and interventions of various bodies, including the Board Chairman of NaFAA, the Houses’ Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, and other well-meaning Liberians. They allege that Madam Glassco has violated several rules and regulations, including those related to employment, dismissal, and workplace harassment.
One of the key grievances outlined by NaFAAWA is Madam Glassco’s alleged misuse of NaFAA resources for political campaigns and personal gain. They claim that she has misappropriated funds meant for the construction of a state-of-the-art administrative building, instead using the money to purchase a luxurious car, generators, and renovate a personal office building.
Additionally, NaFAAWA accuses Madam Glassco of involvement in financial improprieties, including the wrongful registration of shrimp vessels for personal financial gain. They allege that the most lucrative species of shrimp was overfished during experimental fishing activities due to Madam Glassco’s lack of control mechanisms, driven by personal interests.
The association also highlights Madam Glassco’s refusal to provide transportation for NaFAA staff while she reportedly uses a luxurious car and vehicles assigned to directors for personal purposes. They claim that Madam Glassco’s actions have created a hostile work environment and have hindered the growth and development of NaFAA.
In light of these grievances, NaFAAWA has declared a “VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE” in the leadership of Madam Glassco and is calling for immediate action to address their concerns. They are hopeful that their grievances will be addressed promptly to pave the way for the growth and development of NaFAA.
It is essential that these allegations are thoroughly investigated to ensure transparency and accountability within NaFAA. The employees’ association has taken a courageous stand in highlighting these issues, and it is now up to the relevant authorities to take appropriate action to address these serious allegations.
See full letter below:
This Vote of No Confidence is seriously concerning! It calls for investigation.
Republic of Liberia
NATIONAL FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE AUTHORITY WORKERS ASSOCIATION (NaFAAWA)
P.O. Box 1384
Bushrod Island, Monrovia, Liberia
“United for fairness, strength, and solidarity”
To : Hon. Alexander Nuetah
Chairman, Board
National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA)
Cc : Hon. Amid Modad
Board Member, NaFAA
: Hon. Boima Kamara
Board Member, NaFAA
: Retired Brigadier-General Geraldine Janet George
Board Member, NaFAA
: Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr.
Board Member, NaFAA
: Chairman and Members
House Committee on Agriculture & Fisheries
National Legislature, Republic of Liberia
: Chairman and Members
Senate Committee on Agriculture & Fisheries
National Legislature, Republic of Liberia
: Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah
Minister, Ministry of Labour
Republic of Liberia
: File
From: National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority Workers Association (NaFAAWA)
Subject : Resolution/Grievance
Date : May 2, 2024
NATIONAL FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE AUTHORITY WORKERS ASSOCIATION (NaFAAWA) has said vote of No Confidence is seriously concerning and calls for investigation against the Director General (DG) of NaFAA Madam Emma Glassco has become dictatorial and overbearing to listen to her professional colleagues at the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) in moving the entity forward for the betterment of Liberia;
WHEREAS, the DG has refused to adhere to the intervention of the Board Chairman of NaFAA, the Houses’ Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry and other well-meaning Liberians;
WHEREAS, the DG has violated the rules and regulations on employment, dismissal, retirement, etc. set forth by the Competent Authorities (CSA Standing Order, Decent Work Act of Liberia 2015 and Labor Practice Laws of Liberia) and the rule of laws in general;
WHEREAS, the DG has consistently violated Section 6.6 of NaFAA Human Resource Policy by removing employees’ names from payroll while on study leave;
WHEREAS, the DG utterly disregards and violates Sections 2.7 (Workplace Harassment) and 18 (Progressive Discipline for Policy Violators) of the revised NaFAA HR Manual persistently for more than six (6) years;
WHEREAS, the regime of Madam Glassco is highly characterized by huge salary disparities despite same qualification and job title, and frequent restructuring of budget due to off budget spending even though the budget has never supported line activities reflected in departmental workplans;
WHEREAS, under her stewardship, all employees’ salaries are subject to NASSCORP deduction, but never remitted, thereby affecting employees’ future benefits.
WHEREAS, Madam Glassco grossly violated the Code of Conduct for public officials by using NaFAA/state resources (money & material) for political party campaigns throughout her stay at NaFAA;
WHEREAS, the DG, Glassco has involved herself in financial improprieties/wrongful revenue generation non-beneficial to the Government of Liberia (registration of shrimp vessels namely SOKONE, AMINE and KANBALL III). The above-mentioned vessels carried out experimental fishing activities in the territorial waters of Liberia for a period of two (2) years (2021 and 2022) instead of the six (6) months intended due to personal financial benefits (thus establishing an huge offshore account in Senegal);
WHEREAS, during the so-called experimental fishing, the most lucrative species of shrimp (Scarlet shrimp) was overfished, as opined by the consultant due to the lack of control mechanism because of the DG’S personal interest;
WHEREAS, the DG unilaterally cancelled the construction of NaFAA’s state of the arts administrative building valued at US$3.5 million but chose to misappropriate the funds by buying herself a car (valued at US$138,000), generators and renovating a 3 bed room house as an office building for over US$ 250,000.00. The World Bank has proposed again for the recent restructuring of the Liberia Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (LSFMP) the construction of the headquarters, but again she has unilaterally told the Bank that NaFAA does not need it even with the limited workspace and the unprofessional work environment;
WHEREAS, the DG has refused to provide transportation (Bus) for staffers while she rides a luxurious US$138,000.00 car for the past six years, stopped Directors from using assigned vehicles while she uses the vehicles to commute her hair stylists from Ghana, personal investers and friends from Nigeria.
NOW, THEREFORE, the employees of NaFAA through the Workers Association (NaFAAWA) have resolved to present these grievances to you for redress. We are no longer in the position to work amicably with Madam Emma Metieh Glassco, Director General of NaFAA. We have; therefore, declared a “VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE” in the leadership of Madam Glassco. We are; therefore, hopeful that your favorable response to our grievances will pave the way for the growth of NaFAA.
LET IT BE KNOWN TO ALL MEN that during Madam Glassco’s ascendency to power at NaFAA, adequate financial (approx. US$ 4.8m), material and human resources were available and inherited from BNF/MOA and BNF/LiMA under the Administration of Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to start the smooth operations of NaFAA; courtesy of the World Bank WARF Project, EU Liberia-Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA), Private Tuna-SFPA and other international partners.
Besides, BNF/WARFP had also prepared long-term revenue mobilization and implementation plan for the fisheries sector prior to NaFAA creation as autonomous agency. It is also important to note that Madam Glassco came to NaFAA with Zero fisheries management experience. She has heavily relied on the expertise of the same professionals she abuses and denigrates daily. She instead used the entity’s finances to build her public relations propaganda machinery to create a mirage that she has done exceedingly well for the fisheries sector, and use state resources, including donors’ supplies, to drive her political agenda.
More importantly, her antsy attitude towards retaining the Director General’s position is less of passion for the sector, and more of what she garners from the sector which has made her super rich.
DONE under our names and signatures on this 2nd day of May 2024 at the National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA):
Signed: ___________
Isaac Patrick Johns
General Secretary, NaFAAWA
Cell#: +231886836022
Email: ijohns@nafaa.gov.lr
Signed: _______________
Sonkalay Karnue
Assistant General Secretary, NaFAAWA
Cell#: +231770683478
Email: skarnue@nafaa.gov.lr
Signed: ______________
- Alexander Mangblin
Public Relations Officer (PRO), NaFAAWA
Cell#: +231886345845
Email: amangblin@nafaa.gov.lr
Approved: ______________
Jeremiah Wonplue Nah
President, NaFAA
Cell#: +231777011459
Email: jwnah@nafaa.gov.lr
