Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), has condemned the actions of Liberians he accuses of undermining national progress. In a strongly worded Facebook post on January 15, 2025, Dr. Nyan expressed frustration with individuals he described as conspirators against those fighting corruption.
The remarks followed a damning report from The Independent newspaper detailing a corruption scandal at NPHIL. The investigation revealed the illegal sale of 11 vehicles from the NPHIL compound, leading to the dismissal of two senior officials and the suspension of several staff members without pay.
The dismissed officials, George Watson, Special Assistant to the Deputy Director for Administration, and Pewee Quaqua, Director of Logistics, were accused of orchestrating the unauthorized sale of government property. Darlington Bah, Deputy Director for Logistics, was suspended indefinitely, while drivers Alexander Jisay, Jerome Ponney, and Kennedy Gayflor faced three-month suspensions without pay.
The investigation also implicated Dr. Adams K. Lincoln, Deputy Director General for Administration, in organizing the illegal vehicle transactions. He is accused of forging documents to claim ownership of NPHIL property. The committee tasked with probing the scandal has recommended that President Joseph Boakai terminate Dr. Lincoln’s services.
Dr. Nyan reaffirmed his commitment to rooting out corruption at the agency, stressing the importance of upholding transparency and accountability within NPHIL. He called on the institute’s Board of Directors and the Ministry of Justice to collaborate in ensuring those responsible face the full weight of the law.
“I will not allow corruption to undermine the progress we are making at NPHIL,” Dr. Nyan declared. “We are steadfast in maintaining the integrity of this institution and advancing Liberia’s development agenda.”
The implicated employees have been turned over to the Ministry of Justice for further investigation and prosecution.
