The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has firmly dismissed circulating claims that its Deputy Director General for Operations and Technical Services, Alpha Gongolee, has been cleared of wrongdoing, emphasizing that his suspension remains fully in effect.
In a statement issued on May 31, 2026, from Monrovia, LACRA’s Board of Directors said recent social media reports suggesting Gongolee’s reinstatement are false and misleading. The Board stressed that no official decision has been made to lift the suspension.
According to LACRA, Gongolee was suspended following serious allegations that he authorized Zeno Company to export cocoa outside the Authority’s established regulatory procedures. The Board stated that this action bypassed required approval channels and violated official export protocols.
However, the Board clarified that the Zeno Company case is not an isolated issue. It pointed to a broader pattern of alleged misconduct involving the unauthorized issuance of export permits to non-compliant exporters, enabling cocoa shipments in violation of national regulations.
As part of its inquiry, the Board mandated the Liberia National Police to investigate the Zeno Company matter and submit findings directly to LACRA for administrative review. The Board expressed concern that this process was compromised, noting that the investigative report was not delivered through official channels but instead released to the subject of the investigation, who then shared it publicly.
Because proper procedures were not followed, LACRA stated it cannot recognize or validate any findings currently circulating in the public domain. The Board maintains that it has yet to receive an official report and, as such, considers the case unresolved.
Consequently, Gongolee remains suspended indefinitely on grounds of alleged collusion and procedural violations.
LACRA reaffirmed that its actions are grounded in law and institutional procedure, stressing that it will not be influenced by misinformation, external pressure, or attempts to weaken its regulatory authority.
The Board also assured stakeholders and international partners that the Authority’s operations remain stable and uninterrupted, with continued focus on transparency, accountability, and safeguarding Liberia’s agricultural trade.
The public has been urged to disregard unverified reports and rely solely on official communications from LACRA.
The statement concluded with concern over the circulation of what it described as an unauthorized “clearance report,” noting that no such document has been formally submitted or recognized by the Board.
