A victim who has been illegally dismissed confirmed to Verity News about an alleged US$8,000 theft scandal involving Deputy CFO, Mr. Henry Gahr, who was requested to quietly resign without any accountability.
The allegations, if substantiated, point to systemic corruption and nepotism at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK) — Liberia’s top public health facility — and have sparked calls for immediate action from anti-corruption authorities and national leadership.
Fraud, Kickbacks, and Contract Manipulation
Insiders report that Gahr’s resignation followed the disappearance of two checks totaling over US$8,000 from the medical center’s accounts. According to multiple sources, rather than launching an investigation or involving law enforcement, CEO Dr. Linda A. Birch accepted Gahr’s resignation in silence.
Financial officers within JFK say the move was not only unethical but illegal — and accuse the administration of protecting Gahr because of his reported family ties to Dr. Birch.
“It was a clear case of theft,” said a senior JFK official who requested anonymity. “Everyone here knows what happened. The money vanished, and instead of involving the police, the CEO asked him to resign quietly. No audit. No accountability.”
Internal documents and whistleblower testimony further allege that Dr. Birch and her inner circle orchestrated multiple procurement schemes to funnel kickbacks through public contracts.
One such deal — dubbed the BK-Pharmacy agreement — allegedly offers no benefit to hospital staff or the general public, but instead rewards Dr. Birch personally through lucrative kickbacks. Another controversial project, the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) contract, was reportedly awarded to a bidder who ranked fourth in the official evaluation process, raising red flags about rigged procurement.
Protected Inner Circle
Critics point to a growing culture of favoritism at JFK, where family ties appear to shield individuals from consequences. In addition to Gahr, another staffer named Mrs. Wede Haines — a cashier and longtime confidante of the CEO — has been accused of issuing unofficial receipts and collecting unauthorized payments from patients’ relatives. Despite multiple internal reports, she remains employed at the hospital with no disciplinary action taken.
“If it were any regular employee, they’d be arrested,” said a hospital administrator. “But when you’re close to the CEO, you get a pass.”
Those who have tried to expose the misconduct say they’ve faced retaliation — including the wrongful dismissal of the very employee who brought the Gahr theft to light.
“I was doing my job,” the dismissed staff member told Verity News. “But they made me the problem instead of going after the real thief.”
Growing Internal Dissent
Senior staff in key departments — including Legal, Compliance, Payroll, and Human Resources — are reportedly at odds with Dr. Birch’s management. Insiders describe an environment of division, secrecy, and dysfunction at the leadership level, with some accusing the CEO of breaching protocol and leaking internal documents to political allies.
A letter signed by internal whistleblowers and addressed to the Senate Pro Tempore, Vice President, and Secretary General of the ruling party warns that these scandals could severely damage public trust and provide ammunition to political opponents.
“Private Empire” Allegations and Calls for Action
Over the past year, multiple employees have allegedly been removed or marginalized, replaced by individuals with personal ties to Dr. Birch. The result, say staff members, is a public institution increasingly run as a “private empire” rather than a national health facility.
“This isn’t the first time,” said a long-serving employee. “Family and friends are protected, even when they break the law. Meanwhile, honest workers are punished or pushed out.”
Civil society groups are now urging President Joseph Boakai’s administration to intervene.
Activists argue that the integrity of JFK, and public confidence in national governance, hangs in the balance.
“The public deserves answers,” said a representative of a Monrovia-based healthcare watchdog. “A government hospital cannot be allowed to operate like a private cartel. There must be consequences, and there must be accountability.”
As of press time, Dr. Birch and the JFK administration have not responded to repeated requests for comment.
