By Peter A. Teah
SINOE COUN TY, LIBERIA – A controversy has surfaced at the Samuel Alfred Ross Port, where top management officials are alleged to have manipulated shipping records to distort the actual volume of fertilizer transported to Harper Port. Documents recently released by investigative activist Preston Slami Panyonnoh reveal that port authorities deliberately altered official records to underreport cargo volumes for transactions conducted in January and February 2025.
The alleged scheme, led by Port Director Cllr. Sylvia Tarley, involved forwarding misleading reports to the National Port Authority (NPA) Headquarters in Monrovia, creating a discrepancy of 2,270 metric tons of fertilizer that remain unaccounted for. Panyonnoh, who exposed the irregularities via Facebook, presented two versions of shipping records—one with the official Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) logo and the NPA stamp confirming the actual volume transported, and another reportedly manipulated by Sinoe port officials to conceal the true figures.
The officials implicated in the falsified reports include Finance Director Rhoda A. Neufville, Planning Manager Solomon Jeffrey, M&E Executive Director Jusuf Bility, Finance Manager Alvin Wesseh, and Pier Supervisor Edward G. Gargli. An inside source disclosed that BLEECO Group of Companies made six trips transporting fertilizer from Sinoe to Harper Port, carrying a total of 3,300 metric tons. However, port officials reported only four trips and significantly reduced the declared shipment volumes.
According to the falsified records, two shipments were logged as carrying 350 metric tons each, while two others were reported at 165 metric tons each, bringing the officially declared total to only 1,030 metric tons. This stark difference from the actual 3,300 metric tons raises urgent questions about the missing cargo and the extent of the deception.
This is not the first time the Samuel Alfred Ross Port has been linked to irregularities. Previous reports have accused its management of manipulating figures submitted to the NPA Headquarters. Despite mounting concerns, Port Director Tarley and her team have yet to address the latest allegations.
