SAPA TV Liberia has debunked a claim by Verity Online News regarding alleged misconduct by Abu Ali, a Syrian supervisor working on the World Bank-funded Kakata Model School Project, against a contractor, George Harmon.
SAPA TV revealed that its investigative team has conducted an exhaustive inquiry into claims made by Verity Online News, but contrary to the sensationalized narrative its findings reveal that the incident in question is far from the alarming accusations reported.
In a recent publication, Verity Online News reported a disturbing accusation against Ali, claiming that he assaulted Harmon by dumping a half-bag of cement on his head. However, SAPA TV Liberia’s investigation has outrightly debunked the claim.
According to SAPA TV’s investigation, an eyewitness account and credible testimony confirmed that no significant incident occurred. “Mr. Harmon indeed encountered an unfortunate mishap, where an empty cement bag inadvertently brushed his face at the construction site—an accident attributed to a momentary lapse of supervision by an engineer. Importantly, a medical report, now in possession of SAPA TV Liberia, corroborates that Harmon did not sustain any injuries, particularly to his eyes, thus refuting the allegations of assault.
“Further investigation has shown that the publication contained exaggerated details designed to elicit outrage rather than convey truthful accounts. This misrepresentation not only tarnishes reputations but can have serious implications for workplace dynamics and trust within the project,” SAPA TV observed.
The media group noted that the International Consolidated Contractors (ICC) paid the entire medical bills at Jackson F. Doe Memorial Hospital for contractor Harmon, and he was fully compensated with all of his monthly wages. “He still works with ICC, which is directly in line with international best practices as well as the labor laws of Liberia regarding contractor George Harmon,” the group noted.
SAPA TV has meanwhile urged Verity Online News to maintain the ethics of journalism, as the responsibility of journalists is to sift through the chaos of misinformation and present facts grounded in reality. “The emphasis should remain on fostering a safer work environment while ensuring that narratives accurately reflect the truth,” the group further observed.