Liberia Government Loses Four Tenure Cases and Wins One Against EPA

The government of Liberia faced a setback as the Supreme Court ruled against President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s nominations for tenure positions in four key agencies. The Court found procedural errors in the nominations of heads for the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, Governance Commission, Liberia Lottery Authority, and the Liberia National Identification Registry.

While the government lost in four out of five cases, the ruling favored Prof. Wilson Tarpeh, who was seeking a tenure position at the EPA. The Court emphasized the importance of following due process and respecting tenure rights, stating that the individuals occupying the positions in question were not granted proper procedures.

As a result of the ruling, Andrew Peters, Atty Garrison Yealue, Edwina Crump Zackpah, and Reginald Nagbe will retain their positions and receive the necessary due process as required by law. However, Tarpeh was not granted tenure as the Court found that he was acting in his role and was not officially appointed.

Despite the Court’s decision, there are reports suggesting that the President may dismiss these officials and provide them with a pay-off. The ruling highlights the importance of following legal procedures in appointments and the significance of upholding tenure rights in government agencies.