Former Director General of the National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Emma Metieh Glasco, has bidded farewell to the institution she led for seven years, describing her removal by President Joseph Boakai as a disruption of “wonderful plans.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, March 16, Glasco recounted what she called “unprecedented gains” under her tenure, highlighting major financial deals, policy reforms, and institutional advancements. She pointed to securing multimillion-dollar funding, including $40 million from the World Bank, $20 million from OPEC, and several European Union and FAO-backed projects. She also noted international agreements and regulatory updates aimed at strengthening Liberia’s fisheries sector.
Glasco’s departure comes as NaFAA transitions to new leadership, a shift she suggested was more political than administrative. “I thought I would have time to say goodbye, but politics has interrupted our wonderful plans, leaving mixed feelings,” she wrote.
Among her achievements, she listed the establishment of a fisheries science program at the University of Liberia, a newly built NaFAA headquarters, and livelihood programs for local fishermen. She also claimed credit for advancing Liberia’s position on international fisheries bodies, including the West Central Gulf of Guinea Fisheries Commission, which NaFAA now chairs.
Despite her removal, Glasco urged NaFAA employees to support the new leadership “in the interest of Liberia” while stating her intention to “seek redress on clearing my character.” She extended gratitude to former President George Weah for giving her the opportunity to serve and acknowledged the Boakai administration for allowing her tenure to conclude.
