By 
Monrovia, Liberia – The turbulence at the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), operator of the Roberts International Airport (RIA), has taken a dramatic turn with the sudden resignation of Hon. Helena M. Doe Knuckles, Deputy Managing Director for Administration.
An internal memo from the Human Resources Department dated August 15, 2025, confirmed Knuckles’ resignation, effective immediately. The announcement was circulated to all RIA employees on Friday, sending shockwaves through the institution.
Her departure comes amid growing allegations of corruption, waste, and abuse within the LAA. For nearly a year, reports have linked senior management officials—including Managing Director Abraham Kamara, Deputy Director Mendscole, and executive Egon Kuiah—to questionable financial practices and systemic mismanagement.
Whistleblowers and independent investigations have pointed to irregular expenditures, including the controversial monthly payments to board members and additional “board fees” allegedly funneled to Deputy Director Mendscole, despite his regular salary from the Authority.
The crisis intensified after senior LAA officials recently appeared before the Liberian Senate, where their testimony on the causes of power outages and operational failures at RIA was described as misleading and unconvincing. Lawmakers expressed dismay over what they viewed as evasive answers and a lack of accountability from the management team.
Knuckles’ resignation is now being viewed by many as a symptom of deeper fractures within the institution. Critics argue that the exit of such a senior figure underscores the urgency of sweeping reforms at Liberia’s principal gateway to the world.
For years, stakeholders have warned that without decisive restructuring, the LAA would remain crippled by inefficiency, patronage, and corruption—problems that directly affect Liberia’s aviation credibility and international reputation.
With Knuckles gone, all eyes are on what comes next for the Authority, as employees, stakeholders, and the public brace for further fallout from the scandal.
