MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Matthew Nyanplu, former Assistant Minister for Information Services at the Ministry of Information Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), has intensified his criticism of President Joseph Boakai’s administration, alleging violations of Liberia’s Code of Conduct Act. In a Facebook post on January 1, 2025, Nyanplu accused the government of fostering nepotism and ignoring established standards of integrity in public service.
Citing Section 1.3.16 of the Code of Conduct Act, which prohibits the appointment of family members within the same government branch or agency, and Section 3.2, which stresses the need for public officials to avoid conflicts of interest, Nyanplu raised concerns about appointments within the Boakai administration. He specifically pointed to the roles of Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, and his younger brother, Richard Fatorma Ngafuan, who serves as head of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS).
Nyanplu claimed that Augustine Ngafuan, by virtue of his position as Chairman of the LISGIS Board, directly oversees the agency led by his brother. Additionally, he alleged that Richard Ngafuan had appointed his wife, Mrs. Joyce Nyenpan Ngafuan, as Director of the External Trade Statistics Bureau at LISGIS, further deepening concerns of nepotism.
Highlighting a pattern of similar practices during the previous Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration, Nyanplu referenced former President George Weah’s appointments of Janga Kowo as Comptroller General and Kowo’s wife, Roseline Jargbe Kowo, as Head of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC). “Why do we keep doing this to ourselves as a nation?” he lamented, questioning the country’s commitment to good governance.
Nyanplu’s remarks have generated renewed debate on social media, particularly on Facebook, regarding ethical governance under the Boakai administration. Many have called for immediate remedial action to address the allegations and uphold the principles enshrined in Liberia’s laws. However, Nyanplu has also faced criticism for his silence during his time in the Boakai administration, with some accusing him of being motivated by bitterness over the circumstances surrounding his departure.
It can be recalled that Nyanplu resigned from the Boakai administration in November 2024, following his indefinite suspension by President Boakai. His suspension came after he exposed the government’s involvement in the controversial Nekotech scholarship deal.
