SUAKOKO: As the newly appointed Director General of the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), Dr. Arthur Bob Karnuah takes on the mantle of authority, the outgoing Officer-in-Charge of the entity, Dr. James Sulonkwiley Dolo has expressed total disappointment in the leadership of the Board of Directors of the Institute headed by Agriculture Minister Alexander Neutah.
On Thursday, July 25, 2024, Dr. Arthur Karnuah was appointed as Director General of CARI by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai following a vetting process by the Board of Directors of the Research Institute.
The Board Members of CARI include the Minister of Agriculture, Alexander Neutah Chair, Director General of CARI, Ex-officio, University of Liberia, Tubman University, and Liberia Institute for Biomedical Research (LIBR).
Others are Dr. Walter Wiles, a member, Dr. Moses M. Zinnah, a Member, Mr. Edward G. Smith, a member, Hon. Oscar Copper, a Member, and Dr. Romell Horton, a Member.
Dr. James Sulonkwiley Dolo took over as Officer-in-Charge of CARI on Thursday, March 28, 2024. He served in that capacity for a little over four months.
But, expressing his disappointment in Minister Nuetah’s leadership on Thursday, August 8, 2024, on the main compound of CARI in Suakoko District, Dr. James Dolo told the gathering that he should have been the best celebrant of the occasion, but instead, he is the ‘saddest’ person because of the bad treatment received from the leadership of Minister Nuetah at CARI. He added that he has worked hard for the improvement of the institute, but his efforts have allegedly been dispatched by the leadership of the board.
“I should have been the best celebrant for this ceremony, but unfortunately,l am the saddest person because of the bad treatment l have received from the board.
At times, you work hard, but your work is dispatched. The chair of this board is my best friend and has always been my best friend, but there has been no point in time where he seems to be my friend.” Dr. Dolo expressed.
The outgoing Officer-in-Charge of the Agricultural Research Institute recounted that he has always been supportive of the Institute, ranging from his return from exile to his alignment with the research Institution.
He made specific references to the time he helped the current board chair, Dr. Nuetah with relevant information about CARI when he Nuetah needed those information, and when he was again called to serve as Officer-in-Charge of the entity during the transitional period where the compound of the institute was chaotic.
“To prove that l have been the best friend of this board chair, when we all returned from exiles on a study leave, he had a consultancy with the World Food Programme and needed some information from CARI, I was the one contacted and l provided that for him, even during the transitional period when CARI was chaotic, l was again looked upon to take that task, but l have been overlooked all along the way” Dr. Dolo asserted.
According to Dr. Dolo, the form and manner in which the turning-over ceremony was singlehandedly organized by the leadership of the board of directors of CARI shows a sign of overlooking his administration. He added that the program was organized without the consent of his administration, until a few hours before the event.
Dr. Dolo, openly told the gathering that, due to the reported humiliation from the leadership of the board of CARI, he thought not to attend the ceremony, but was advised by his staffers to let go of the bad feelings and show up for the sake of the institute, also adding that he was previously threatened by the board with administrative actions if he refuses to attend the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dolo, in his turning over note, reported that today, CARI is an area of stability, depoliticized, and has a team of united scientists more motivated and energetic than the institute was over the past ten years.
“As l turn over today, l report to tell you that l am turning over a CARI that is more stable than it was ten years ago, a CARI that is more depoliticized than it was ten years ago. I am also turning over a CARI that has united scientists more energetic and motivated to work than it was ten years ago.” Dr. Dolo reported.
In recommendation, Dr. Dolo suggested to the newly appointed Director General of CARI, Dr. Arther Karnuah to restructure the board of CARI by the act that established the entity. He added that the current board of the institute was not constituted in conformity with the act.
“I am recommending to you Dr. Karnuah to restructure this current board of CARI if this institute should be free from political interference” he added.
