The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) has strongly condemned the arbitrary dismissal of ten (10) senior employees of the National Port Authority (NPA), including the Comptroller, Gabriel S. Bull, and called for their immediate reinstatement.
Recently, the Managing Director of the National Port Authority, Sekou Dukuly, abruptly dismissed ten (10) senior employees of the NPA, including Bull, for alleged financial impropriety, as well as administrative reasons.
“Having conducted investigation into reasons and circumstances surrounding the dismissal of senior employees of the NPA, including Bull, Comptroller of the National Port Authority, the Civil Society Network of Liberia views the dismissal as arbitrary, illegal and a witch-hunted action. There is no substantially established reason why the Sekou Dukuly-led Administration of the NPA would dismiss these senior employees. The NPA management’s allegations of “financial improprieties and administrative reasons” are vague, ambiguous and lack evidence. In fact, the dismissed employees were never accorded due process, as provided for in Article 20 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution. We wonder as to how could these employees be dismissed without due process, which is a fundamental element of the rule of law,” the Civil Society Network of Liberia stated in a press release.
“The Civil Society Network of Liberia strongly believes that, from all investigations, the NPA management’s decision to dismiss these employees fails to meet the minimum standard of evidence from any specific proven reason for said action. Our review and analysis of findings from the imaginary investigation conducted by the NPA management regarding the termination of the employees’ service as comptroller of the NPA, on the basis of discovering vouchers showing sums of money disbursed to the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is not only manufactured, but a premeditated action intended to illegally deny a Liberian his right to employment. It is highly inconceivable or unthinkable for Mr. Bull to disburse six vouchers with similar figure of US$9,500.00 on the same date of July 17, 2023.
“The Civil Society Network of Liberia wants to make it emphatically clear that findings from its investigation into NPA management’s allegations that Mr. Bull authorized the disbursement of six vouchers, bearing identical figure and date for the purpose of community engagements in support of the CDC’s 2023 campaign, is a fictional story being told to justify the deliberate and intentional attempt of dismissing Mr. Bull and other senior staff of the corporation. We strongly believe that the voucher disbursement’s allegation is a calculated ploy designed by the new NPA management team to remove Mr. Gabriel Bull and other affected Liberians from their jobs. This manufactured account of the disbursement of fake vouchers is also intended to besmear the hard-earned reputation of Mr. Gabriel Bull, who has served the National Port Authority for many years, with professionalism, integrity and transparency. During his 27 years’ service at NPA, Mr. Bull has never been warned or suspended for any acts of financial malpractice,” the Civil Society Network of Liberia maintained.
“The Civil Society Network of Liberia Commends Montserrado County’s district #17 Representative, Hon. Bernard D. J. Benson, for seeking the intervention of the House of Representatives into the abrupt dismissal of Mr. Gabriel Bull and other senior staff of the NPA. However, we call for a speedy and expeditious action from the Legislature in ensuring that the dismissed NPA staff are reinstated. We also commend Mr. Gabriel Bull and other dismissed NPA employees for the level of tolerance and intelligence they have exercised despite the glaring unlawful action taken against them. Now that the case is before the court, we are convinced that the court will dispense justice, and Mr. Gabriel Bull will be reinstated as comptroller of the National Port Authority.”
