Students at Lofa County University (LCU) are up in arms over what they describe as a coercive and exploitative policy introduced by the university’s president, Dr. Isaac P. Podah, which requires them to purchase textbooks authored by him as a precondition for enrollment.
The books titled Save the State, Citizenship, and Public Administration are being sold for US$5, US$10, and US$10 respectively. Depending on their academic program, students are forced to pay as much as US$25 to complete registration. These costs, which appear directly on their billing statements, have triggered widespread outrage on campus, especially as Liberia’s public universities were declared tuition-free by the government in an effort to relieve students of financial burdens.“This is not just about money; it’s about principle,” said one student who requested anonymity. “We’re already paying library fees. Why are we being forced to buy these books instead of accessing them through the library?
”But the controversy surrounding Dr. Podah extends beyond the classroom. A detailed complaint filed to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) by LCU employee Kemoh Kamara alleges a pattern of corruption, abuse of power, and manipulation of the university’s payroll system for personal and political gain.At the center of the complaint is a so-called “ghost employee,” Vamuyan L. Kanneh, who was reportedly placed on the university’s payroll by Dr. Podah despite being fully employed as a Special Assistant to Senator Momo T. Cyrus. Kanneh, according to the complaint, has never reported to LCU since his supposed hiring in November 2024 but has been receiving regular salary payments. His payroll ID is listed as 436739.Adding to the accusations, the complaint details how Dr. Podah allegedly submitted employment names to the Civil Service Agency (CSA) without following standard procedures. Instead of providing Personnel Action Notices, he convinced the CSA to process salaries while promising to submit documentation later, a delay believed to be intentional to hide the presence of ghost employees.
Another controversial figure is Washington Kezelee, a staff member previously removed from the payroll after a General Auditing Commission (GAC) audit failed to verify his attendance. Dr. Podah allegedly reinstated Kezelee, who has not been seen on campus and is currently teaching full-time at two other institutions in Monrovia.In further defiance of governance protocols, Dr. Podah reportedly increased the salaries of associates without board approval. Salaries for Mr. Momo S. Taylor and Mr. Kezelee were bumped up to US$1,900 and US$3,000 respectively. One of his close associates, Peter Davis Sumo, was also hired and assigned a monthly salary of US$2,000 without the legally required two-thirds board resolution.The complaint also accuses Dr. Podah of authorizing a payment of US$3,350 to his friend, Madam Annie Markelee Flomo, a university board member, under the pretext of organizing a board retreat. However, internal findings suggest the money was used to finance her children’s Diversity Visa (DV) program applications.
Kemoh Kamara’s addendum to the initial complaint, dated April 10, 2025, and addressed to LACC Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe, paints a picture of systemic misconduct and unethical favoritism. Kamara claims that Dr. Podah has been soliciting lists from lawmakers, excluding Senator Cyrus, of students whose tuition should be covered under the guise of legislative support for LCU’s budget. This, Kamara says, is a veiled strategy to funnel favors to political allies.Equally troubling is the hiring of Mr. John Lake, now serving as both Associate Vice President for Institutional Development and Acting Director of Human Resources. Lake was a member of the Vetting Committee that recommended Dr. Podah for the presidency of LCU. His subsequent employment by Podah raises serious conflict-of-interest concerns, which Kamara argues is a direct violation of the Code of Conduct for public officials.
As students continue to resist the mandatory book policy and voice discontent over financial exploitation, calls for accountability are growing louder. With enrollment reaching an estimated 1,500 students this semester, critics suggest Dr. Podah could collect up to US$37,500 from book sales alone, revenue derived directly from students already struggling under economic pressure.The LACC has confirmed receipt of the complaints and is reportedly investigating. Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees of Lofa County University has yet to make a public statement. For students and staff, the question remains whether LCU’s leadership will be held to account or if the allegations will be buried like so many others before them.
