Monrovia, Liberia – Allegations of rampant nepotism have surfaced against the Director-General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), Josiah Joekai, raising concerns over the integrity of public service hiring practices under his leadership.
Multiple sources within the CSA and the government have informed Verity News of what they describe as a growing pattern of favoritism and patronage, accusing Director Joekai of appointing several close family members and allies to influential and well-paid positions across various government agencies.
Among the most prominent appointments is that of Joekai’s wife, Joanna Domingo-Joekai, who now serves as Director for Nursing at JFK Medical Center. In addition, two of his brothers, Korvy V. Joekai and Victor Kpatakolee, have been appointed and installed in key roles—Korvy as a Director at the Ministry of Health and Victor as Director of Security at the CSA.
Also drawing scrutiny is the reported promotion of Joekai’s brother-in-law, Zarballee “ZB” Woiwor, who was recently elevated from Deputy Director for Employment Services to the dual role of Special Technical Assistant and Chief of Staff—a position that carries the salary scale of an Assistant Minister.
Critics within the CSA and other government circles have begun referring to the leadership as the “Joekai and Wife Dynasty”, accusing the Director-General of sidelining qualified candidates in favor of family members. “Merit-based hiring has essentially been thrown out the window,” one civil servant lamented under condition of anonymity. “It’s becoming a family affair, and that’s dangerous for governance.”
The alleged favoritism, if substantiated, may constitute a breach of civil service regulations and Liberia’s anti-corruption frameworks, which emphasize transparency and meritocracy in public sector appointments.
Internal dissent is reportedly growing within the CSA, with some officials expressing fears that the current trend could further erode public trust and institutional credibility. “We cannot build a strong and ethical civil service when nepotism is the order of the day,” a senior agency insider told Verity News through its investigative team headed by Journalist Emmanuel M. Kangar, Jr.
The situation continues to unfold, with mounting calls from transparency advocates for an independent investigation into the hiring practices under Joekai’s leadership.
