Monrovia, Liberia — February 10, 2026: The Ministry of Agriculture has announced the suspension of five employees following the uncovering of administrative and financial irregularities, as revealed by preliminary audit reports and investigations carried out by the Civil Service Agency (CSA).
According to the Ministry, the disciplinary actions align with the CSA Standing Orders and reflect the Ministry’s firm stance on transparency, accountability, and ethical governance in the public sector.
The preliminary findings pointed to multiple breaches of administrative protocols, unauthorized financial transactions, and deviations from standard human resource procedures.
Among those affected is Mr. Abraham T. Blyden, Welfare Officer within the Human Resources Division, who has been suspended without pay for three months, effective February 10, 2026. Investigators found that Mr. Blyden unilaterally contacted the CSA and altered his employment records — upgrading his position and increasing his monthly salary from USD 305 to USD 1,500 without proper authorization.
The Ministry described this as a serious administrative violation and misconduct under CSA regulations. Once his suspension ends, Mr. Blyden will be reassigned outside the HR Division.
Also implicated is Ms. Barbara J. Swen, a Secretary in the same division, who received salary payments of USD 1,500 that she was not entitled to. Ms. Swen has been suspended without pay for one month for colluding with Mr. Blyden and failing to return the excess amount to government accounts. Both individuals are required to refund the overpaid sums after serving their suspensions.
In addition, three senior staff members—Mrs. Marietta S. Johnson Kolee, Deputy Comptroller; Mr. Halala W. Kokulo, Director of the Land and Water Resources Division; and Mrs. Morleeta Mends-Cole Chea, Acting Director of the Crop Resources Division—have been placed on administrative suspension for one month pending the outcome of a final audit report.
Preliminary findings suggested the non-disclosure of operational accounts for two key programs: the ECOWAS Agroecology Project and the MOA-SYRIMAO Project, held at United Bank for Africa (UBA) and EcoBank Liberia Ltd. respectively. Officials under the supervision of the Deputy Comptroller reportedly carried out transactions on these accounts without the knowledge or authorization of the Senior Management Team.
The Ministry stated that these suspensions are temporary and precautionary, intended to allow a fair review of the matter by the Audit and Legal Committee. All affected staff have been directed to yield ongoing assignments and return Ministry property immediately.
Emphasizing that these are not final disciplinary measures, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to due process throughout the investigation.
Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah reiterated the Ministry’s zero-tolerance policy toward misconduct, stressing that the institution will not compromise on integrity and accountability.
“The Ministry of Agriculture remains steadfast in promoting transparency and good governance. These measures underscore our dedication to safeguarding public trust and ensuring that all staff operate in strict alignment with government regulations,” Minister Nuetah said.
The Ministry assured partners and the public that it is taking additional steps to strengthen internal control systems and enhance oversight to prevent future irregularities in financial management.
