A corruption scandal has emerged at the Samuel Alfred Ross Port in Sinoe County, revealing a troubling pattern of falsified shipping records and underreported shipments that could affect Liberia’s efforts to fight corruption.
Classified documents recently leaked to Verity News show that port management, under the leadership of Madame Sylvia Tarley, allegedly manipulated official records to conceal the true volume of fertilizer transported through the port in January and February 2025.
The documents expose a massive discrepancy, including the official records from Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) and falsified versions submitted to the National Port Authority (NPA). According to the evidence, six fertilizer shipments, totaling 3,300 metric tons, were made from Sinoe to Harper Port. However, the official reports sent to the NPA underreport the number of trips and grossly inflate the figures, listing only four trips and falsely claiming the total volume was just 1,030 metric tons. This underreporting of 2,270 metric tons raises serious questions about what happened to the missing fertilizer and whether the discrepancies were part of a deliberate effort to deceive authorities.
Those involved in the scandal are: Finance Director Rhoda A. Neufville; Cllr. Sylvia Tarley, Port Director; Solomon Jeffrey, Planning Manager; Jusuf Bility, M&E Executive Director; Alvin Wesseh, Finance Manager; and Edward G. Gargli, Pier Supervisor.
This latest scandal comes just days after previous revelations about questionable activities at the Sinoe port, including manipulated figures and discrepancies in the records sent to Monrovia. Despite these growing concerns, there has been no public response from the port management or Madame Tarley regarding the discrepancies. This lack of transparency is further fueling skepticism among Liberians who have grown increasingly frustrated with the apparent impunity of public officials.
The timing of the scandal is particularly concerning, as it coincides with President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption. The question now is whether the government will take action to hold those responsible accountable or whether this incident will be swept under the rug, as has often been the case with previous corruption scandals. The missing fertilizer and the falsified records represent more than just a financial loss. It undermines the public’s trust in the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Local citizens, particularly those in Sinoe County, are demanding answers. As the investigation into the missing fertilizer progresses, many are calling for a full audit of the port’s operations and a review of the management practices at Samuel Alfred Ross Port. In a country still struggling to rebuild and address systemic corruption, incidents like these send a troubling message that the resources intended for the people are being misused and misappropriated.
With the evidence now in the public domain, the government of Liberia faces a critical moment. Will it take a stand and investigate the corruption at Sinoe Port, or will it remain complicit in the ongoing mismanagement of public resources?
