Monrovia, Liberia — January 16, 2026 — The Managing Director of FrontPage Africa (FPA) newspaper, Rodney D. Sieh, has publicly rebuked Montserrado County District #5 Representative Priscilla Cooper over what he describes as a misleading claim of responsibility for a recent cleanup exercise along the Police Academy Road in Paynesville.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Mr. Sieh expressed disappointment after learning that Representative Cooper had allegedly taken public credit for a sanitation initiative he says he personally initiated, financed, and supervised, without political intent or public fanfare.
According to Mr. Sieh, the cleanup effort was undertaken shortly after his return to Liberia from the United States, where he underwent successful cancer surgery. Upon returning home, he said he was alarmed by the growing accumulation of garbage along the newly constructed Police Academy Road—an area popularly referred to by residents as “Lovers’ Lane” because of its sidewalks and recreational appeal.
Mr. Sieh explained that although the road was welcomed as a major improvement for the community, illegal dumping began soon after its completion, posing serious environmental and public health risks.
“To put it in perspective, the Police Academy Road was a blessing to the community,” Sieh wrote. “However, it did not take long for unscrupulous individuals to turn parts of it into a dumping ground, creating hazards for residents and road users.”
He disclosed that he immediately contacted the Mayor of Paynesville, Hon. Robert S. Bestman II, who responded by assigning city aides to support the cleanup. Mr. Sieh further stated that he personally funded the purchase of pipes and other materials used to erect a wire fence to deter future dumping, and that he remained on-site with Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) staff throughout the cleanup exercise.
“I did not undertake this initiative for recognition,” Mr. Sieh emphasized. “I quietly informed community leaders before acting, and all I asked was for them to help monitor and maintain the area afterward.”
The veteran journalist said he was deeply dismayed when a social media post by Representative Cooper, claiming responsibility for the cleanup, was brought to his attention. He described the alleged claim as dishonest, misleading, and unbecoming of an elected official.
“I am not a politician. I am a journalist and a proud Liberian,” Sieh stated. “I have no interest in Representative Cooper’s seat or in seeking public office. What I object to is an elected official misrepresenting a community initiative that I quietly carried out for the health and safety of residents.”
Mr. Sieh also lamented that for more than a year, several elected and appointed government officials had reportedly passed by the growing garbage pile without taking action. He revealed that he had even reached out to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist in placing warning signs in the area to discourage illegal dumping.
Describing the alleged misrepresentation as unacceptable, Mr. Sieh called on Liberians nationwide to take personal responsibility for addressing community challenges, particularly sanitation issues, when they have the capacity to do so.
“This should be a wake-up call for communities facing similar problems,” he said, citing the Marshall community, which he noted is also grappling with waste management and disorder at its main entrance. “Interventions should be about doing what is right—not politics, not recognition.”
Mr. Sieh concluded by urging public officials to act with integrity and encouraged citizens to make positive contributions to their communities where government efforts are insufficient.
“We may all be unhappy with garbage piling up in our neighborhoods,” he said, “but each of us can step in—not for politics, but because it is the right thing to do.”
As of press time, the office of Representative Priscilla Cooper had not responded to Mr. Sieh’s allegations.
