Home Politics Wanton Abuse of Power! …Koijee Condemns Sacking of 9 Employees At MCC

Wanton Abuse of Power! …Koijee Condemns Sacking of 9 Employees At MCC

by News Manager

By: Frank P. Martin

MONROVIA: Monrovia’s former Mayor, Jefferson Tamba Koijee, has spoken out against the recent dismissal of nine employees from the Monrovia City Government.

Mr. Koijee said the dismissal of the employees were politically motivated. He claims that the move was directed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.

The CDC Secretary General believes that the dismissals are an attempt to target political opponents and create instability in the country.

Mr. Koijee’s assertions are in response to the Monrovia City Corporation Management’s dismissal of about nine employees for “Constant raining of insults on President Joseph Boakai” via social media.

In a statement issued on Friday, August 16, 2024, Mr. Koijee maintains that the allegations levied against the employees are not only far from reality but represent wanton abuse of power and suppression of freedom of speech as guarantees in the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.

He emphasized that these individuals were loyal workers who had done nothing wrong to deserve being sacked from their positions at the MCC.

“These dismissals only make the unemployment situation in Liberia worse. They go against the promises that Mr. Boakai made during his campaign to improve the country. The situation, he said, is “causing division in our nation after the elections.”

He insisted that these actions violate Liberia’s constitution, specifically Article 18, which prohibits discrimination based on political beliefs.

He mentioned that the dismissals also go against the Decent Work Act of 2015 and the authority given to the Monrovia City Government to manage its staff without interference from the central government.

He warned that these actions could harm Liberia’s reputation internationally and discourage donors and development partners from working with the country.

Koijee called on the International Community and civil society groups to speak out against these dismissals and hold the current administration accountable for what he called “political witch-hunt.”

Reflecting on his time as Mayor of Monrovia during the erstwhile administration of former President George Weah, Koijee said he kept employees from the Unity Party in their jobs, regardless of their political affiliations.

He listed several Unity Party members who held key positions in the Monrovia City Government during his tenure.

He warned against targeting anyone for his/her political belief.

Employees who have been kept on their respective positions as followed: Joyce S. Kandakai —Human Resource Director; Varney Paasawee — Manager – Revenue Department; Wleemongar James — Comptroller – Finance Department; Cain Prince Andrews — Director General for Internal Operations.

Others are Kenneth Harris — Director Monrovia City Police; Hilary Womba — Manager – Human Resource Department; Lauramae Gabbidon —Head – Sales & Marketing; F. Oliver Williyan — Director – Solid Waste Southern Region; Joyce Wantue —Manager – MCC Facility
Others are Decontee Stryker — Director – General Services Department; Kpanry Cole — Assistant Director for Operations – Monrovia City Police; Eva Y. Holder — Director – Procurement Department; Abraham B.Y. Jusu Garneo —Director General for Service Program Head of Solid Waste; Rashi Kla Tallawford — Head – MOVCOM / MCC Fleets.
Others include Success K. Harris – Head — IT UNIT PIU now Director General for Service Program;
Late Zubahyea Flomo (late) — Director – Community Service Department; Jacob Walker (late)— Director – Press & Public Relations Department; Boye Robertson — Director – City Planning Department; Sayetta Kpadeh— Director, Environmental Health & Safety Department;
Vallai Mahmud Dorley, (late) my very good friend and brother, served as Director of Economic Policy Unit.

Koijee: “When I was Mayor, I worked for all the people of Monrovia, no matter their political background. We respected the rights of our employees under the laws of Liberia.”

The CDC Secretary General urged Liberians to stand against what he sees as President Boakai’s efforts to gain control through unconstitutional means.

Koijee warned that this path could lead to unrest and conflict, similar to recent events in other West African countries.

“We must stand up to Mr. Boakai now, or we may never get another chance. The peace of Liberia is more important than his personal agenda,” Koijee stated.

In what appears to be a rare crackdown on free speech, the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) has dismissed nine employees following allegations by Civil Service Agency (CSA) Director General Josiah Joekai that the now dismissed employees frequently use social media to criticize government officials, particularly President Joseph Boakai.

On Tuesday at the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing, CSA boss, Joekai urged the MCC to sack the nine employees for what he described as a “deadly social media campaign” targeting senior public officials, especially President Boakai.

Joekai did not publicly disclose the names of the employees, he stressed that their actions had tarnished the MCC’s reputation.

“The Civil Service Agency (CSA) requests the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) to immediately relieve nine employees who have consistently engaged in dangerous and destructive social media campaigns against public officials, particularly targeting the President of Liberia,” Joekai stated.

He added, “These actions have caused significant harm to the reputation and image of the MCC. The negative portrayal of government officials by these unscrupulous employees has far-reaching effects on the individuals concerned and the government as a whole. Such unacceptable and sustained behavior on social media is incompatible with the status of the employees in question. Therefore, the MCC must consider terminating their services and promptly notify the CSA of this action.”

In the absence of due process, Relations Officer, Alpha G. Gray; Revenue Agent, Boye Kokoi; Procurement Assistant, Richard Singbeh; Advertisement Inspector, Foday Massaquoi; Procurement Officer, Yaya Sesay; Solid Waste Inspector, Ben Togbah; and other employees of MCC were dismissed on the order of CSA boss Joekai.

One of the dismissal letters reads: “Your employment service with the Monrovia City Corporation is hereby terminated with immediate effect. Said termination emanates from your consistent and deliberate action portrayed on social media by enraging insults at His Excellency Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr, President of the Republic of Liberia and Government Officials including the Government of Liberia relentlessly without any regards for your official position at the Monrovia.”

The nine individuals are thought to be supporters of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and were employed during the tenure of former Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Tamba Koijee.

The dismissal of these MCC employees may signal a broader clampdown on free speech, raising concerns about potential contradictions with the Unity Party’s campaign promises during the 2023 Presidential election.

Nimba County District #7 Representative in a Facebook post expressed a deep concern about the recent actions by the MCC to dismiss some of its officials. The lawmaker characterized such actions as unconstitutional and unruly.

According to Representative Musa Hassan Bility, it is troubling to hear about the Mayor of Monrovia’s decision to dismiss civil servants for speaking out against the government. Such actions pose a threat to the peace and security of our country.

“As President, it is essential you take charge and address these issues. Your silence on these matters is contributing to a sense of lawlessness and disorder. There have been too many violations of the constitution without appropriate action,” Bility said.

He added: “I urge you to take control of your government before the situation worsens. I also urge you to immediately reinstate the dismissed civil servants. I sincerely hope that my concerns are taken seriously.”

In response to the dismissal letters, Foday Massaquoi said, the reason he was ‘unlawfully’ dismissed as Inspector of the Advertisement Unit of the Monrovia City Corporation is that he supported former President George Weah in the 2023 elections.

“Due to my criticism and consistent exposure of the Boakai-Koung administration’s massive corruption, police brutality, gross violations of the rule of law, and the distribution of poverty among the Liberian masses, I have become a target for elimination by the regime. My dismissal was ordered by President Joseph N. Boakai and the National Executive of the Unity Party. This is a violation of Article 18 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia,” Massaquoi said on Friday, August 16, 2024 in a radio interview in Monrovia.

He added: “Dismissing a citizen for criticizing the presidency shows the magnitude of the attack on freedom of expression in the country. This is also a violation of Article 15(b) and the Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act on free speech. Criticism is a tenet of democracy under Liberian law, but sadly, Mr. Boakai has violated and bastardized the laws of the republic 59 times in less than eight months.”

The Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act, named after former President of the Press Union of Liberia and passed into law in 2019 amended chapter 11 of the Penal law of 1978 repealing sections 11.11 on criminal libel against the president, sedition and criminal malevolence.

Adding up, the dismissed MCC employees promised to seek legal redress.

Alpha Gray told Journalists in Monrovia that the action of MCC is an unprecedented repression on freedom of speech and assault on Liberia’s democracy and the rule of law.

“I can assure the management of MCC this act of unlawful dismissal will be challenged through the judicial system where I believe justice will be dispensed in congruence with the Constitution of the Republic,” Gray said.

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