The House of Representatives has officially removed Isaac Garyeazon Redd Sr., the former Deputy Director of the Liberia Broadcasting Service (LBS), from its Supplementary Payroll. This action was confirmed by Representative James M. Kolleh, Chairperson of the House’s Rules, Order, and Administration Committee, on December 22, 2024.
Redd, who had been employed as a media consultant for the House of Representatives, earned a gross salary of $1,000 per month during his three-month tenure from September to November 2024. His appointment, made under former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa’s leadership, has been controversial, as his role and salary were scrutinized after Speaker Koffa’s removal from office.
Alongside Redd, other individuals, including Winston Blyden and Jallah Grayfield, both journalists, were also removed from the payroll. Blyden, who works for Representative Abu Kamara’s radio station, had reportedly been placed on the supplementary payroll by Koffa despite his clear affiliation with a private entity, raising further concerns about the appropriateness of such appointments.
The decision to remove these individuals was part of a broader effort by the current leadership of the House of Representatives to review and correct staffing decisions made by former Speaker Koffa. The leadership has also requested that Koffa submit the names of the staff members in his office for the pending December salary processing. However, Koffa has reportedly refused to comply with this request, intensifying the tension within the legislative body.
The actions taken by the current leadership have sparked discussions about the misuse of payroll resources and the need for greater transparency in the management of government funds. As the matter unfolds, further scrutiny is expected, particularly with regard to the political motivations behind these staff placements.
The House of Representatives remains committed to ensuring that all payroll practices align with proper legal and ethical standards, focusing on eliminating irregularities from past administrations.
