By By: Staff Writer
Monrovia, Liberia – Just months into their term, the Boakai-Koung administration faces serious corruption allegations, particularly involving the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC). This agency, tasked with aiding refugees and displaced persons, has come under fire following explosive claims made by a former employee, Daniel Jackson.
In a recent media appearance, Jackson accused the LRRRC of misappropriating funds intended for refugee support, unveiling a series of misallocated checks from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) worth thousands of U.S. dollars. He provided damning evidence, including copies of checks that indicate funds meant for legitimate beneficiaries were diverted to individuals with no ties to the refugee community.
Central to these allegations is LRRRC Executive Director Patrick Worzie, along with his deputies, who Jackson claims facilitated a scheme involving fictitious payments and inflated beneficiary numbers. “At the LRRRC, Patrick Worzie and his deputies are engaging in massive corruption,” Jackson stated. He urged President Boakai to demand an investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to address what he described as a blatant betrayal of the agency’s mission.
Evidence leaked by Jackson shows that many supposed returnees listed for benefits were actually “ghost names,” with funds collected by others under fraudulent pretenses. One particularly alarming document included a fake manifest used to generate receipts submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning as proof of payment.
Jackson has also raised concerns about Geraldine Kolleh, an LRRRC employee who allegedly leveraged her catering business to provide food for returnees, a situation he views as a clear conflict of interest. Some of the leaked checks indicate Kolleh cashed amounts exceeding L$4 million and US$30,000. Jackson claims she has used her connections to intimidate others, a point disputed by Senator Prince Moye, who denied any association with her.
In response to the growing scandal, Worzie and his team have denied the allegations and reported the agency’s Comptroller to the Liberia National Police (LNP) for investigation into financial misconduct, following an internal audit revealing forged signatures and tampered documents during a recent repatriation effort.
Despite the ongoing investigations, Jackson insists Worzie is the orchestrator of the corruption and has exploited both refugees and LRRRC staff for personal gain.
The situation has deeply affected the returnees, who celebrated their return from Ghana in May, yet have since grown disillusioned. In September, a group protested outside the LRRRC, voicing their anger over unpaid benefits. Assistant Chairperson Emmanuel Derricks criticized the agency for failing to meet its promises, highlighting the dire circumstances many returnees face.
The group has urged the national government to intervene, demanding immediate action to ensure they receive the support they were promised. “We cannot continue to believe in false hopes,” Derricks said, calling for accountability from the LRRRC.
As the scandal unfolds, the Boakai-Koung administration’s commitment to tackling corruption is put to the test, with many watching closely to see if justice will prevail for the vulnerable populations they are meant to serve.
