The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), which is supposed to be an integrity institution, continue to be shrouded in integrity crisis.
Recently, the Chairperson of the Commission, Cllr. Dempster Brown was indefinitely suspended by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for alleged act of forgery, something the suspended INCHR boss is challenging at the Supreme Court of Liberia.
In a latest twist to the controversy at the INCHR is revelation that the Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) is being asked by the Commission’s Board to do a “comprehensive investigation into allegations of corruption, financial misconduct, abuse of office, payroll fraud, and any other offenses that may be disclosed by the evidence”.
An INCHR statement which was sent to this news outlet on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, said: “this decision follows a review of institutional records undertaken by the current Board after the appointment of the Acting Chairperson, Cllr. Mohammed E. Fahnbulleh. That review identified matters which, in the judgment of the Board, raise serious concerns regarding compliance with the Public Financial Management Law, the Commission’s internal financial control procedures, and the proper administration of donor and public resources.”
SEE FULL TEXT OF THE INCHR PRESS STATEMENT BELOW:
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REFERRAL OF ALLEGED CORRUPTION, PAYROLL FRAUD, AND RELATED FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES TO THE LIBERIA ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION (LACC)
The Board of Commissioners of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), acting pursuant to its statutory oversight responsibilities under the INCHR Act, and in fulfillment of its fiduciary duty to safeguard public resources and uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance, has resolved to formally refer matters involving the Commission’s suspended Chairperson, Cllr. T. Dempster Brown, the Executive Director, Atty. Urias Teh-Pour, and the Director for Planning Mr. Bah-wah Brownel to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) for a comprehensive investigation into allegations of corruption, financial misconduct, abuse of office, payroll fraud, and any other offenses that may be disclosed by the evidence.
This decision follows a review of institutional records undertaken by the current Board after the appointment of the Acting Chairperson, Cllr. Mohammed E. Fahnbulleh. That review identified matters which, in the judgment of the Board, raise serious concerns regarding compliance with the Public Financial Management Law, the Commission’s internal financial control procedures, and the proper administration of donor and public resources.
UNICEF Grant and Alleged Circumvention of Financial Controls
The Board has identified records indicating that in October of 2025 the suspended Chairperson, acting on behalf of the Commission, sought and obtained grant support from the UNICEF Liberia Office in the amount of Twenty Thousand One Hundred Seventy-Five United States Dollars (US$20,175.00).
Available records indicate that UNICEF transferred the grant to the Commission on October 15, 2025.
The Board has reason to believe that the management of this grant was conducted outside the Commission’s established internal financial control framework and contrary to the governance principles governing institutional financial management. Preliminary information available to the Board indicates that the authorized signatory arrangements for the project funds were altered to limit authorization to the suspended Chairperson and the Executive Director, excluding other duly approved institutional signatories, including the Vice Chairperson, who ordinarily serve as authorized signatories on Commission accounts.
If substantiated, such actions may represent a deliberate circumvention of established financial controls intended to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper stewardship of donor resources.
The Board further notes that these matters came to its attention following the discovery of correspondence dated June 24, 2026, from the UNICEF Liberia Office indicating that portions of a report submitted on behalf of the Commission had been rejected. That correspondence prompted the current leadership to undertake a broader review of the project documentation and financial records.
Following that discovery, the Board formally requested the production of all documents relating to the UNICEF-funded project, including project proposals, grant agreements, financial reports, supporting vouchers, procurement records, contracts, bank records, implementation reports, and related correspondence. Despite repeated requests, the requested records have not been fully produced to the Board, thereby preventing the Board from effectively discharging its statutory oversight responsibilities and reinforcing the need for an independent investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission.
Alleged Payroll Padding and Misapplication of Public Funds
The Board has also resolved to refer allegations concerning suspected payroll padding and the continued inclusion of former employees and former Commissioners on the Commission’s dummy payroll after their separation from the institution.
The information presently before the Board raises concerns that salaries and benefits may have continued to be processed in the names of individuals who were no longer lawfully entitled to receive compensation from the Commission. The Board further considers it necessary for the LACC to determine whether any such funds were subsequently diverted or redirected for the benefit of persons not lawfully employed by the Commission.
Among the names requiring verification during the investigation are former Commissioner Pela Boker-Wilson, Dr. Niveda Ricks-Onuoha, Gloria M. Harris, Roseline Allison Bailey, David Dahn, and many other individuals identified through examination of the payroll records.
The Board emphasizes that only a comprehensive forensic audit and criminal investigation can establish the full extent of any irregularities, identify all responsible persons, quantify any financial loss, and determine whether offenses under the laws of Liberia have been committed.
Previous Calls for Independent Audit
The Board further recalls that as far back as 2022, four Commissioners formally petitioned the Auditor General of the Republic of Liberia requesting an independent audit of the Commission arising from concerns regarding financial management and institutional governance.
The Board understands that the requested audit was never conducted. The current leadership believes that an independent investigation into the matters now before the Commission is both necessary and long overdue in order to establish the facts, restore public confidence, and ensure accountability where warranted.
Administrative Measures
In order to preserve institutional records, protect the integrity of the investigative process, and safeguard the interests of the Commission, the Board has resolved to immediately suspend the Executive Director, Atty. Teh-Pour, and the Director for Planning from the performance of their official duties pending the outcome of the appropriate investigations.
These administrative suspensions are precautionary measures taken in the interest of good governance and shall not be construed as findings of criminal liability. The individuals concerned remain entitled to all constitutional guarantees of due process and the presumption of innocence unless and until otherwise determined through the appropriate legal process.
The Board further calls upon the suspended officials to cooperate fully with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and to make themselves available to assist the investigative process.
Commitment to Integrity and Accountability
The Independent National Commission on Human Rights is itself an integrity institution established to promote respect for the rule of law, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights. The current leadership therefore has both a legal obligation and a moral responsibility to ensure that allegations involving the misuse of public or donor resources are referred to the competent authorities for independent investigation.
The Board wishes to make it unequivocally clear that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, financial misconduct, abuse of office, payroll fraud, and any practice that undermines public confidence in the Commission.
The current leadership remains fully committed to restoring integrity, strengthening internal controls, enforcing compliance with the Public Financial Management Law and the Commission’s governing framework, and ensuring that every public and donor dollar entrusted to the Commission is managed transparently, lawfully, and in the best interests of the people of Liberia.
The Board respectfully calls upon the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to accord this referral the highest priority and to conduct a thorough, impartial, and independent investigation into all matters disclosed herein. Where the evidence establishes violations of law, the Board expects that appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Liberia.
Under our watch, transparency is not optional; accountability is not negotiable. No public official is above the law
Thank you, and special thank to all members of the board.