Monrovia, Liberia – At long last, and amid mounting public pressure and sharp condemnations from civil society organizations and activists—most notably exiled Liberian advocate Martin K. N. Kollie-Commerce Inspector General Dorr Cooper has officially resigned following explosive revelations of academic fraud.
Cooper’s resignation comes on the heels of one of the most damning scandals to rock Liberia’s academic and public service institutions in recent years.
The former Inspector General stands accused of fraudulently obtaining a degree from the University of Liberia, a claim now thoroughly discredited by an internal university investigation.
The Investigation
In response to these allegations, raised by Activist Kollie, the University’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Agnes Reeves-Taylor, commissioned a five-member special investigative committee on September 23, 2024, led by Mr. Robert Weah. The committee was tasked with determining:
Whether Mr. D. Dorr Cooper was ever enrolled as a student at the University of Liberia, and
How he managed to obtain academic clearance and credentials for graduation.
According to a leaked investigative report obtained by Verity News from the Office of the President of the University, the committee reviewed enrollment and academic records from 2015 to 2024, including data from the university’s digital service provider, Mwetana.
The findings were unequivocal: Dorr Cooper was never a registered student at the University of Liberia.
A Web of Academic Fraud
Instead, the investigation uncovered that Cooper had fraudulently assumed student ID number 26371, originally assigned to the late Mr. Dahngbaye M. Wogbeh, who passed away on July 19, 2015. Records were reportedly altered on November 11, 2015, by then-university employee Kollie T. Kamara to replace Wogbeh’s identity with Cooper’s.
On May 10, 2024, further tampering by Mr. Jonathan Kangar linked Cooper’s name to the academic transcript of Ms. Niome Nowah Tyler, a legitimate 2019 graduate. This identity swap enabled Cooper to falsely appear eligible for graduation.
Additional updates were made on August 31, 2024, by Ms. Mercy W. Koquoi, who entered Cooper’s name into the system as “D. Dor Cooper,” accidentally omitting a letter. When the fraudulent entry appeared on the Public Administration Department’s graduation clearance roster, clearance officer Mr. Thurston Lewis claimed to have raised concerns, which were later refuted by colleagues Mr. Goffa Suah and Mr. Foday Jaleiba. Both admitted the name remained on the final clearance list.
Despite initially denying involvement, Department Chair Mr. Arthur B. Sharpe was found to have introduced Cooper to Professor Dr. Lester Tenny for graduation clearance. Meanwhile, department coordinator Mr. Goffa K. Suah was found to have knowingly approved Cooper’s academic clearance despite full knowledge of the fraud.
Sources further confirmed that Mr. Augustine Z. Garpi played a role in distributing funds allegedly paid by Cooper in exchange for the clearance.
Implications for the Boakai Administration
Dorr Cooper’s resignation is being hailed by many as a necessary step toward accountability, but it also raises uncomfortable questions for the Boakai administration. Cooper was a senior official in the Ministry of Commerce—his exposure for academic fraud undermines the government’s stated commitment to integrity, transparency, and merit-based governance.
As leaked reports suggest that some officials at the University of Liberia may be attempting to suppress the full findings, there is growing pressure on President Joseph Boakai to not only dismiss Cooper from public office entirely but also to ensure that all individuals involved are held accountable.
Legal analysts argue that the scandal has cast a long shadow over both the university and the government. “If the President fails to act decisively, it sends a dangerous message—that academic fraud and corruption can be swept under the rug,” one legal expert told Verity News.
What Comes Next
With the public demanding swift action and sweeping reforms, the spotlight is now firmly on the University of Liberia and the Boakai administration.
For many Liberians, this case is not just about Dorr Cooper—it’s about the credibility of Liberia’s institutions and the integrity of those who lead them.
Whether this marks a turning point or a missed opportunity for meaningful reform remains to be seen.
