Monrovia, Liberia–Documents in possession of this paper show that the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) has alarmed about alleged ghost employees, fake receipts, and payroll fraud at the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC).
In a formal communication dated May 28, 2025, addressed to Mayor John-Charuk Siafa, the FIA detailed a troubling list of financial irregularities within the MCC.
These include the presence of ghost employees on payroll, repeated employee names, forged taxpayer receipts, and unexplained salary deductions.
The letter, signed by FIA Officer-in-Charge Mohammed A. Nasser, emphasizes the gravity of the allegations and demands immediate submission of financial records for investigation.
Citing its statutory authority under the FIA Act of 2021, Section 67.3, and the agency requested a broad range of documents, including: Payroll records from March 2024 to the present, all bank-submitted payrolls, MCC bank account details, Receipts issued to taxpayers since January 2025, Internal investigation reports, and Data from the MCC’s electronic payment platform.
The FIA warned that failure to comply with the June 2 deadline would render the MCC “complicit to suspicion,” potentially escalating the situation to legal consequences.
Internal Audit Unveils Corruption Scheme
The FIA’s intervention follows an internal audit conducted by MCC itself, which uncovered a potentially coordinated scheme involving some senior staff attempting to siphon off public funds.
Two top officials, Weemongar P. James, Financial Comptroller, and Solomon J. Blayee, Manager of Community Outreach, have been suspended pending further investigation.
They are accused of forgery, document falsification, and theft of city revenues.
According to the audit, which reviewed the MCC’s financial operations from January through April 2025, approximately L$2.16 million and US$21,000 went unaccounted for.
Investigators believe the funds were siphoned through fraudulent bank deposit schemes, impersonation tactics, and unauthorized revenue collection.
A central discovery involved fake deposit slips presented to the MCC Revenue Director.
These slips, allegedly issued by four local businesses, prompted the printing of official MCC receipts, even though the payments were never credited to MCC accounts.
The audit also revealed the unauthorized distribution of counterfeit Solid Waste Inspection letters, normally issued only by the Director General of Environmental Health and Sanitation, being circulated prior to formal approval.
Political Sensitivity and Law Enforcement Involvement
The scandal threatens to shake the administration of Mayor Siafa, who was appointed just over a year ago by President Joseph Boakai.
Although the Mayor has not been directly implicated, the FIA’s request and the audit findings place immense pressure on his office to demonstrate transparency and control over the city’s financial operations.
In response to the revelations, the MCC has invited the Liberian National Police and its Internal Audit Department to initiate a full criminal investigation.
City officials maintain that the appropriate disciplinary actions are being taken and that the matter will be handled with full cooperation with the relevant authorities.
Public Concern Mounts
Civil society groups have begun voicing outrage, calling for broader accountability and independent oversight over city operations.
“This is not just a financial issue—it’s about trust,” said a spokesperson from the Center for Public Integrity. “When city employees falsify records and divert funds, it impacts services, sanitation, and the everyday lives of Monrovia’s citizens.”
As the June 2 deadline for document submission approaches, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on City Hall. Whether the MCC can regain public trust may well depend on the speed and sincerity of its response.
