Leadership of Liberia’s Agricultural Authority Denies Credibility Crisis Amid Ongoing Investigations
The Acting Director General of the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), Dan Torkamawon Saryee Sr., has firmly rejected media reports suggesting that the institution is experiencing a credibility crisis following the suspension of its Director General, Christopher D. Sankolo.
Saryee described the claims as “far from the truth” and accused unnamed individuals of attempting to damage the reputation of the Interim Management Team through deliberate misinformation. He emphasized that while challenges have existed, the current leadership is actively working to reform internal systems, enhance accountability, and rebuild public trust.
No Credibility Crisis
According to Saryee, LACRA has faced several challenges over the years, but the new management is focused on creating a more transparent and accountable framework. He highlighted that in just one month, significant progress has been made, including the recovery of properties previously leased to LPMC in the 1970s.
He also mentioned that the leadership has prioritized community engagement and respectful negotiation tactics, particularly in Bong County, where efforts are underway to revive cocoa and coffee processing facilities. These initiatives are expected to generate employment opportunities for local farmers.
Allegations of Smuggling and Revenue Leakage Dismissed
Saryee dismissed allegations that at least $56,000 in royalty payments collected from exporters was diverted after the collapse of a documentation system post-Sankolo. The report claimed that cocoa exporters were no longer required to submit full documentation, only Equipment Interchange Receipts (EIRs) from APM Terminals, which lacked commodity details or proof of royalty payments. It further alleged that exporters were making direct payments to a third party identified as Gongolee.
However, Saryee countered that the report failed to present a balanced perspective, as it omitted his response. He explained that the new system was developed with input from all departments and is now being enforced to ensure transparency in all export-related activities.
'Inherited Rot' Under Sankolo
In a pointed revelation, Saryee accused the suspended DG, Sankolo, of operating a parallel system where agents allegedly paid registration fees directly to staff instead of LACRA's official accounts. He presented a complaint from an agent who reportedly paid fees in June 2025 that were never deposited. Investigations revealed that the payment was collected by the suspended DG's Special Assistant, who admitted using the funds for personal purposes on Sankolo's authorization.
“We are currently investigating whether this was a pattern. This is the magnitude of what we inherited,” Saryee said. He added that while the team is working to clean up the mess, others are using reputable media institutions to shift blame and distract from their own actions.
He mentioned that the institution's Human Resource office has been consulted for guidance on disciplinary action, and more revelations could emerge as internal probes continue.
Open Challenge
In a defiant tone, the Acting Director General issued an open challenge to those accusing the current leadership of wrongdoing. “We invite these actors to prove us wrong. This issue has been exhaustively investigated, and the Special Assistant in question admitted he was authorized to take the money.”
Saryee concluded by reaffirming the commitment of the Interim Management Team to reforming LACRA and restoring institutional credibility. “We will not allow distractions to derail our efforts. The story reported is far from the truth—and we have the facts to prove it,” he emphasized.
Key Points Summary
- Leadership Claims: The acting director general denies any credibility crisis and emphasizes ongoing reforms.
- Challenges Addressed: The new management has taken steps to improve transparency and accountability.
- Allegations Refuted: Claims of smuggling and revenue leakage are dismissed as misleading.
- Inherited Issues: The previous leadership is accused of operating a parallel system with financial irregularities.
- Open Challenge: The acting director general invites critics to provide evidence against the current leadership.