Monrovia – 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 they frequently use social media to criticize government officials, particularly President Joseph Boakai.
By: J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)-[email protected]
On Tuesday at the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing, the CSA boss Joekai urged the MCC to terminate 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 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
City Corporation.”
An investigation conducted by FrontPage Africa revealed that the nine individuals are supporters of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and were employed during the tenure of former Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson 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.
Rep. Bility Criticizes Dismissal of MCC Employees
Nimba County District #7 Representative in a Facebook post expressed deep concern about the recent actions from the MCC to dismiss some of its officials, which he believes are unconstitutional and unruly.
According to Representative 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, he says.
“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.”
Dismissed Employees Response to Dismissal Letters
In response to the dismissal letters, Massaquoi said the only reason he was ‘unlawfully’ dismissed as Inspector of the Advertisement Unit of the Monrovia City Corporation is because 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.
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.
Seeking Legal Redress
Adding up, the dismissed MCC employees promised to seek legal redress, adding their dismissals were illegal.
Gray told FrontPage Africa 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.
He added: “The legal services of nine civil servants, including myself, were illegally, unjustifiably terminated by John-Charuk Siafa at the prompting of Mr. Boakai, a specialist of lawlessness who has consistently shown a commitment to lack of leadership, compassion, tolerance, and disregard for the rule of law.”
By: J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)-[email protected]
Monrovia – 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 they 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, the CSA boss Joekai urged the MCC to terminate 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.”
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 as Public Relations Officer of the Monrovia City Corporation
Letter of Dismissal from John-Charuk Siafa, Mayor of Monrovia
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 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
City Corporation.”
An investigation conducted by FrontPage Africa revealed that the nine individuals are supporters of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and were employed during the tenure of former Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson 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.
Rep. Bility Criticizes Dismissal of MCC Employees
Nimba County District #7 Representative in a Facebook post expressed deep concern about the recent actions from the MCC to dismiss some of its officials, which he believes are unconstitutional and unruly.
According to Representative 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, he says.
“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.”
Dismissed Employees Response to Dismissal Letters
In response to the dismissal letters, Massaquoi said the only reason he was ‘unlawfully’ dismissed as Inspector of the Advertisement Unit of the Monrovia City Corporation is because 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.
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.
Seeking Legal Redress
Adding up, the dismissed MCC employees promised to seek legal redress, adding their dismissals were illegal.
Gray told FrontPage Africa 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.
He added: “The legal services of nine civil servants, including myself, were illegally, unjustifiably terminated by John-Charuk Siafa at the prompting of Mr. Boakai, a specialist of lawlessness who has consistently shown a commitment to lack of leadership, compassion, tolerance, and disregard for the rule of law.”
