Two Public universities, the Lofa University and the Bomi University College, have been mired in alleged corruption including payroll padding and unauthorized withdrawals valued at over US$1.9 million.
According to leaked checks, official records, and findings released by the LACC, the allegations include payroll padding, ghost employees, unauthorized withdrawals, and procurement violations, all contributing to what watchdogs are calling one of the most brazen examples of public sector abuse in the education sector.
The LACC confirmed that investigations, which began in December 2024, have now been completed. However, as of this publication, no arrests or prosecutions have been announced.
Bomi Community College: US$1.5 Million in Unauthorized Withdrawals.
An audit conducted by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) found that over US$1.5 million and LRD 9 million were withdrawn from Bomi Community College’s project account without proper documentation or justification.
Key findings from the LACC report dated January 18, 2025 include:
Fraudulent and unexplained withdrawals from project funds
Procurement violations in contract awards
Absence of financial records or receipts for major expenditures
Incomplete and abandoned infrastructure projects on campus
The investigation also uncovered suspected collusion between college administrators and private contractors, suggesting a coordinated scheme to divert public funds.
Lofa County University: Ghost Workers and Contractor Scandals
A separate LACC probe into Lofa County University, initiated in November 2024 and concluded on April 10, 2025, revealed the misuse of over US$410,000 and LRD 13.3 million.
The breakdown includes:
Over US$73,000 paid to ghost employees
More than US$337,000 disbursed to contractors with no supporting records or services delivered
Gross violations of recruitment and payment procedures
The LACC described the findings as clear cases of “payroll padding and illegal contractor payments,” revealing systemic weaknesses in the institution’s financial oversight.
Public Outrage and Calls for Accountability
The revelations have drawn widespread condemnation from civil society organizations, student unions, and education watchdogs, with many calling for immediate prosecutions and a full forensic audit of all public tertiary institutions.
“It is unacceptable that while students are learning in overcrowded classrooms, with broken laboratories and unpaid instructors, millions are being siphoned through fraudulent schemes,” said Sarah Koffa, Executive Director of the Liberia Education Watch Coalition.
Despite the completion of the investigations, there has been no official action taken against those implicated.
The LACC reports and recommendations have been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for further legal review and possible action.
As public pressure mounts, many are questioning whether this will lead to meaningful accountability, or whether it will join a long list of unresolved scandals in Liberia’s ongoing struggle with corruption in the education sector.
