Monrovia, Liberia – Former Mines and Energy Minister Wilmot Paye has publicly claimed that his removal from government was tied to his decision not to help conceal the academic fraud scandal involving former Commerce Inspector General D. Dorr Cooper. Instead of covering up the controversy, Paye says he stood by academic integrity—and that choice, he alleges, contributed to his dismissal.
Paye told the public that when allegations about Cooper’s academic credentials began to surface, he received a call from Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung. According to Paye, he was asked to have his wife, a lecturer at the University of Liberia, help suppress information related to the case to protect Cooper.
Paye said he rejected the request outright. Instead, he advised that Cooper resign from his position as Inspector General at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He further claimed that his refusal to involve his wife in any effort to shield the scandal became one of the factors that led to his replacement as Minister of Mines and Energy.
The Vice President has not publicly responded to Paye’s allegations, and there has been no official statement from the Executive Mansion regarding the claims as of press time.
Background: Dorr Cooper’s Academic Fraud Scandal
The controversy centers on Dorr Cooper, who served as Inspector General at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry before becoming the focus of a major academic fraud investigation.
University of Liberia investigators concluded that Cooper fraudulently obtained a degree in Public Administration despite allegedly never being properly enrolled as a student. The university’s investigative committee recommended his prosecution and reported that several university employees were involved in facilitating the scheme.
University investigators alleged that Cooper obtained academic credentials through manipulated records and the unauthorized use of another student’s information. The findings led to the revocation of his degree, disciplinary action against several university staff members, and widespread public calls for accountability.
Amid growing public pressure, Cooper resigned from his post as Commerce Inspector General in May 2025. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai later accepted the resignation.
A New Political Dimension to an Academic Integrity Crisis
Paye’s latest allegations have now added a new political layer to a scandal that already raised serious concerns about academic integrity, public trust, and accountability within government institutions.
The case touches on deeper questions: Should public officials protect their own when fraud is uncovered? Should they shield academic misconduct to maintain political stability?Or should they prioritize integrity, even when it means urging resignation or supporting prosecution?
Paye’s claim suggests that the answer taken by some was to cover up the scandal. His answer, he says, was to stand for truth—and that stance, he alleges, contributed to his removal.
No independent evidence has yet been publicly presented to support Paye’s claim. The Vice President has not commented. The Executive Mansion has not responded.
But the story remains important because it connects three critical public concerns: academic integrity, political accountability, and the pressure on public officials to protect others when fraud is exposed.
For Liberia’s public institutions, the message is clear: when academic fraud enters government, the decision to cover it up or confront it can shape careers, trust, and the future of accountability in the country.
