By Emmanuel Mafelah /mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Citizens in Liberia’s central Bong County have expressed serious disappointment over the discovery of several valuable items allegedly stolen from the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) in Bong County.
The missing items, including a 50kVA generator, fencing wires, fuel tankers, containers and an air conditioner, were all discovered packed in a compound in the Millionaire Quarter Community in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The assets are among several other missing items believed to have been removed from the institute’s premises by its head of Natural Resource Management, David Tokpah.
The stolen materials are believed to be properties turned over to the institute by the United Nations Mission in Liberia upon its departure in 2018. Several contingents of UNMIL were stationed at CARI at different periods during the mission’s operations in Liberia.
Mr. Tokpah, the staff at the center of the allegation, has denied having any knowledge of how the materials left CARI and got in the compound in Gbarnga.
“Whether generator, iron wire, or air conditioner, I don’t know what you are talking about,” Mr. Tokpah said in an interview on Friday.
There have been claims and counter claims among staffers at the agriculture research institute regarding exactly how and when the materials were removed from its Suakoko premises in Bong.
Mr. Arthur Wenneh, a research assistant at the institute, told a local community radio station in Gbarnga on Thursday, Dececember 5 that several assets were taken away by Mr. Tokpah, who normally acted as head in the absence of the director, Paulette Findley.
“I will resign my job at CARI if what I am saying about materials being stolen from CARI is not the truth. We have all evidence to prove this,” Mr. Wennah said.
Responding to Mr. Wennah allegations, Tokpah openly challenged Wennah’s claims that stating that no materials were taken from CARI.
Mr. Tokpah insists that the decision to remove and relocate the assets was made by the management of CARI upon the advice of security, and for purposes of safekeeping.
“I look at it as propaganda; they are trying to undermine the good work of the current management,” Tokpah said, noting that materials have not been taken out of the compound.
Mr. Charles King, the chairperson on the Assets Committee at CARI, has backed Tokpah in this denial.
However, CARI’s management has not shown confidence in Tokpah’s claim. As soon as the items disappeared, the institute promptly requested the Liberian National Police in Bong to intervene and investigate the situation.
The management’s letter to the police specified that “the alleged missing items included a 50kva electric generator, two fuel tankers, and some other unspecified items.”
Bong’s assistant commissioner of police, Frederick Nepay, told this paper on Friday, Dec. 6 that the police now have the discovered assets, and would promptly launch a full-scale investigation.
“We have seen the materials; we are getting in touch with the management of CARI to verify whether these are some of the materials that are missing,” Nepay said.
The police are yet to make an arrest in the case. However, Paulette Findley, the CARI director, has ordered Mr. Tokpah’s suspension and has requested that he turn over all CARI assets pending the police investigation.