The Liberia Institute of Statistics & Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) has requested a rescheduling of a court conference set for December 12, 2025, citing unavailability of key officials due to urgent national matters.
The conference, summoned by the Monrovia City Court, pertains to a complaint filed by Peter C. Dorkpoh Jr., a LISGIS scholarship beneficiary under the World Bank’s HISWA project. Dorkpoh alleges non-payment of allowances and fees owed to him as an international student at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
LISGIS, in a letter signed by Deputy Director-General M. Quay Mariah Quaye Gilayeneh, has requested the conference be moved to December 17, 2025, to allow the Director General and Project Coordinator to attend.
The dispute centers on LISGIS’ alleged refusal to provide Dorkpoh’s monthly research allowance, internet support, study permit fees, and seminar fees, which he claims are part of his scholarship package.
Dorkpoh was selected for the HISWA scholarship in January 2022 to pursue a Master’s in Statistics at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
The scholarship covers tuition, travel, accommodation, visa, health insurance, and a monthly stipend.
LISGIS Director General, Prof. Francis F. Wreh, had congratulated Dorkpoh on his selection, citing the institute’s commitment to building leadership potential and equipping him with skills to drive change in Liberia and Africa.
The Monrovia City Court had summoned LISGIS to a conference to resolve the issue amicably.
LISGIS has assured the court of its commitment to cooperating with the court’s directives.
The court is yet to respond to LISGIS’ request for rescheduling.
Dorkpoh’s complaint highlights challenges faced by Liberian students studying abroad on government or institutional scholarships.
The outcome of the court conference may set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
LISGIS is expected to provide Dorkpoh’s entitlements if the court rules in his favor.
The HISWA project aims to improve statistics in West Africa, and Dorkpoh’s scholarship is part of this effort.
LISGIS’ request for rescheduling is seen as a delay tactic by some, but others view it as a legitimate request given the circumstances.
The court conference is now expected to take place on December 17, 2025, pending the court’s approval of LISGIS’ request.
The case underscores the need for institutions to honor their commitments to scholarship beneficiaries.
