Liberian President Joseph Nyumahh Boakai suspended his Assistant Minister of Information, Matthew Nyanplu, after criticizing a “US$25 million” scholarship scam his government announced with Ghanaian-based NEKOTECH.
Multiple pieces of evidence have shown that NEKOTECH, a company brought to Liberia by Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, is a fraudulent establishment. Its CEO and founder, Princess Asi Ocansey, was once arrested and charged by Accra Circuit Court with human trafficking in 2013.
Boakai claimed that Nyanplu breached intra-agency communication without citing any specific law or protocol to justify such a breach. The Assistant Minister has since resigned from his post, accusing Pres. Boakai’s government of promoting scams. Critics and political analysts have lashed out at President Boakai for shielding scammers and corruption.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai announced Nyanplu’s immediate suspension a day after he appeared on Spoon FM and following a Facebook post describing “Nekotech US$25M Scholarship Loan” as a National Disgrace.
According to a statement released by the President’s office, Mr. Nyanplu’s suspension was prompted by his failure to adhere to established intra-agency communication norms. The statement emphasizes that this breach occurred within his responsibilities as a government spokesman, even though Nyanplu issued a disclaimer before he deliberated on Spoon FM. Nyanplu said his views were his private opinions and did not represent the government.
President Boakai also sternly reminded all public officials to abide by the operational procedures and policies that govern their respective institutions, underscoring that such lapses in protocol undermine the government’s efficiency and credibility. “The suspension is a result of Mr. Nyanplu’s failure to respect internal channels, not a reflection of the validity of the issues he raised,” the President’s office clarified.
In a strongly worded resignation letter addressed to President Boakai, Nyanplu described his suspension as unjust and a reaction to his whistleblowing efforts. He accused senior government officials, including the Foreign Minister, of promoting a program charging Liberians $236 for “preparatory support” while falsely claiming the government had secured student loan obligations.
“I am very sad at your decision to suspend me indefinitely. I believe I have committed no wrong to necessitate this action against me and feel that I have been very unjustly targeted by some powerful people who are in your inner circle because of my critical post on Facebook of November 15, 2024,” Nyanplu stated in the letter.
Citing Section 5(1)(d) of Liberia’s Whistleblower Protection Law, Nyanplu emphasized that his actions were driven by a moral and professional obligation to protect the public interest. “My decision to come out publicly to save Liberians from this extortion is in accordance with the Whistleblower Protection Law of Liberia,” he said.
The Nekotech program was introduced as a $25 million “work-study-loan” initiative to send 250 Liberians to the U.S. for graduate studies. However, Nyanplu revealed that the program misrepresented itself, as students were expected to bear their financial burdens, contrary to official claims. “The Foreign Minister told the nation that the Government had secured this loan opportunity for them. It has turned out that the students will shoulder the loan obligations themselves, not the Government, as Nekotech has told the candidates,” he explained.
Nyanplu also criticized the Foreign Minister for allegedly misleading the public and leveraging government authority to promote the scheme. “Public officials that err must own up to their errors and apologize to the country. This is what integrity is,” he wrote, adding that the scheme jeopardizes the economic security of Liberians and creates undue financial strain on participants.
Civil society organizations and youth groups have rallied behind Nyanplu, demanding accountability and an immediate halt to the program. They are also calling for a comprehensive investigation to safeguard Liberians from further exploitation.
Nyanplu concluded his resignation letter with a pledge to continue serving the country in whatever capacity the people may need him. “I leave the job a happy man and will be available whenever the country needs me. I am ready to tolerate dissent,” he asserted.
The government has yet to respond to Nyanplu’s allegations or the fate of the Nekotech program. As calls for transparency grow louder, this resignation highlights the complexities of governance and the critical role of whistleblowers in promoting accountability in Liberia.
