MONROVIA – Trocon Langford, a trusted religious advisor to President Joseph Boakai, has reported receiving more than US$1,100 and over LRD 56,000 through what he believes were accidental transfers from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP). The first transfer, which totaled US$118 and LRD 5,508, was sent to Langford’s mobile money account on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Surprised by the unexpected payment, Langford assumed it was a mistake and awaited contact from the ministry to address the issue. However, no communication followed.
Over the next few months, Langford continued to receive additional payments of the same amount, with deposits arriving in December, January, February, and March of 2024. Growing concerned, he hesitated to report the transfers, fearing the funds could be tied to fraud or some mishandling.
By April 2024, Langford sought help from high-level government officials. He reached out to the Minister of State without Portfolio, Hon. Samuel A. Steve-Qoah, who connected him with Hon. Elwood Nettey, Liberia’s Controller General. Although Nettey assured him an investigation would take place, the payments continued through May, June, and July, bringing the total Langford received to US$1,175 and LRD 56,235.
During the investigation, Nettey discovered that Langford’s phone number had mistakenly been linked to Jasper Cummeh, a former Liberia Immigration Service employee who passed away in 2014. Despite uncovering the cause of the error, the payments continued. By July, Langford had received two more payments.
Finally, in a payroll audit by the Civil Service Agency, Langford was contacted, and he clarified that he had never worked for the Liberian government. He assured the agency that he had kept the funds untouched in his account.
Under the guidance of Controller General Nettey, Langford returned the full amount—US$1,175 and LRD 56,235—on Thursday, September 12, 2024. This total was minus the US$12 mobile money transfer fee charged by Lonestar MTN.
Langford expressed relief that the issue was finally resolved but remained perplexed by the prolonged error. Controller General Nettey praised Langford’s honesty, commending him for his “unique sincerity” in returning the mistakenly transferred funds.
