By Archie Boan
Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc. (GVL) has allegedly refused to reinstate Sunnyboy S. Dapaye, an Acting Assistant Warehouse Manager, despite a binding court order declaring his dismissal unlawful and mandating his return to work with full pay.
The dispute traces back to January 2025, when GVL discovered that 32 bags of rice were unaccounted for at its Butaw Estate warehouse. Management suspended seven employees, including Dapaye, and launched an internal inquiry. While six of the employees were later reinstated, Dapaye was singled out and dismissed on April 2, 2025, on allegations of gross misconduct and violation of warehouse procedures.
In response, Dapaye petitioned the Ministry of Labor in Sinoe County, describing the investigation as unfair and biased. Following a hearing, the Ministry ruled in May that GVL had failed to provide credible evidence linking him to the missing rice. The ruling emphasized that the company erred by conducting what amounted to a criminal investigation without involving the Liberia National Police. The Ministry declared the dismissal invalid and ordered Dapaye’s reinstatement and compensation under the Decent Work Act of 2015.
GVL, however, resisted the ruling and filed a petition for judicial review before the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Greenville, arguing that it had the right to discipline employees through internal processes.
After reviewing the arguments, Judge Geeplah-Tiklo Konton dismissed GVL’s petition, upholding the Ministry’s earlier decision. In his ruling, the judge stressed that only a court of competent jurisdiction could convict an employee of theft.
“The petitioner, which is not a court of competent criminal jurisdiction, wrongfully assumed criminal authority in investigating and convicting the second respondent,” Judge Konton stated. “The dismissal of Mr. Dapaye was wrongful and is hereby declared invalid termination.”
The court further ordered GVL to reinstate Dapaye to his previous position and pay all legitimate salaries and benefits owed since his dismissal. Costs were also ruled against the company.
But more than weeks after the judgment, reports from Greenville suggest that GVL has failed to comply. Dapaye told this news outlet that despite the clear ruling, management has not reinstated him.
“This is a complete disrespect for the rule of law,” Dapaye said. “The Ministry of Labor and the court both ruled in my favor, yet the company continues to defy these decisions. I have a family to support, and I’ve been without income for months.”
Company Response
When contacted, GVL’s Communication Director, Mark Threason, acknowledged the case but claimed that it was “still in court,” adding that he could not make further comments until the legal process was completed.
However, documents in possession of this news outlet, as well as accounts from the Labor Commissioner in Sinoe County, confirmed that the matter had already been adjudicated, with a final ruling ordering the reinstatement of Mr. Dapaye.
Labor Ministry Response
In contrast, Cleophas Yantee Mah the Labor Commissioner of Sinoe County told this news outlet that the ministry has written several communications to GVL to comply with the court’s mandate, but continued to pay deaf ears to the concerns.
The Commissioner emphasized that the Ministry would, within the week, legallly compel GVL to comply with the court’s mandate to both reinstate and pay all arrears owed to Dapaye. He further noted that if GVL felt uncomfortable reinstating him, the company would instead be required to pay full benefits covering the period from his dismissal to the present.
