๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ซ–๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ก
While I am an advocate for thorough reform of our labor and human resource systems, I would like to point out that amending Liberia’s Decent Work Act through combination with the Civil Servant Agency norms and standards is important. However, there are some unethical practices by some employees in the labor that cannot be hidden.
My advocacy is against unfair labor practices while also fighting for decent governance.
However, it is also crucial that we tell the truth to authority and remain impartial at all times, free of sentiments or sympathies. The recent controversy surrounding Liberia’s Ministry of Labor has highlighted major issues of corruption and administrative integrity. Minister of Labor, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, terminated four employees: Samuel S. Sambolah, Victor S. Whymah, Edwin S. Sebo, and Bill S. Ninneh citing their involvement in behavior unbecoming of public servants.
While these employees have claimed their dismissals were unjust and illegal, citing procedural errors and prejudices inside the Ministry, hidden recordings have surfaced that depict a different picture.
These recordings indicate that the fired employees were participating in a plot to extort money from Chinese investors, which is a major violation of ethical and legal standards.
๐๐ฉ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐
ย The ideals of transparency, accountability, and integrity apply to the Ministry of Labor, as they do to other government entities. Liberia’s Decent Work Act and the Constitution require public personnel to observe the highest ethical standards.
Corrupt practices, such as extortion, directly contravene these ideals and erode public trust in government institutions. Given the gravity of the allegations leveled against the accused employees, Minister Kruah’s decision to fire them appears appropriate. However, his decision may be discussed during the Civil Service Agency hearing on Monday, July 15, 2024.
๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
ย The covert recordings provide solid proof that the fired workers intended to extort money from foreign investors under the guise of investigating unlawful business practices. This not only constitutes a terrible abuse of their power, but it also jeopardizes the business climate in Liberia by instilling fear and uncertainty in foreign investors. Corruption, particularly extortion, is a serious infraction that requires fast and strong action to defend the Ministry’s integrity and national interests.
๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ
ย The fired employees’ conduct is in sharp contrast to the legal and ethical norms that public servants are expected to uphold. The Decent Work Act, which seeks to maintain fair labor practices and defend workers’ rights, implicitly requires that those who enforce the law follow it. Furthermore, the Liberian Constitution enshrines the ideals of justice and fairness, which are breached when public officials participate in corrupt practices. By firing these personnel, Minister Kruah helped to protect the rule of law and the Ministry’s ethical standards.
๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐‘๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐
ย The aggrieved employees have expressed concerns about the procedural aspects of their dismissals, alleging a lack of formal disciplinary hearings and the absence of an inquiry. While these procedural flaws are significant and must be remedied by the Civil Service Agency (CSA), they do not diminish the gravity of the charges made against the workers.
The CSA’s impending hearing will be an opportunity to assess the process and ensure that due process was followed. However, the major attention should be on the Ministry’s integrity and the behavior of the fired personnel.
๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ–๐ฎ๐ฉ
ย Let me conclude by saying that Minister Kruah’s decision to dismiss the four employees amid allegations of corruption may reflect a commitment to upholding the Ministry of Labor’s standards and protecting Liberia’s interests if the case is heard at the CSA and the minister’s decision is supported.
While the procedural objections mentioned by the fired employees must be addressed by the CSA to ensure fairness and openness, the fundamental issue of corruption cannot be overlooked.
The proof of extortion plans against Chinese investors emphasizes the importance of the dismissals. Maintaining public trust and maintaining ethical conduct within the Ministry is critical, and Minister Kruah’s actions in these circumstances are both justified and necessary.
As necessary as the procedural features of the dismissals may be evaluated to guarantee justice, the charges of corruption constitute a major breach that justifies Minister Kruah’s actions. Maintaining the integrity of public service is critical to Liberia’s prosperity and reputation, and any efforts done to safeguard it should be supported.
๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ:
๐๐ข๐ซ-๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ง
๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐
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