The President of the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), Elizabeth Finda Sambolah, has said that she knows nothing about the current conflict at the institution, as it has been alleged by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Francis S. Siryon, and members of the board in the media.
The LMA President told the Hot Pepper recently that CEO Siryon and the Board Chief, Lusu Crawford Slon, are behind the conflict at the LMA. She described the allegation levied against her by Siryon and members of the board as false misleading, and far from the reality.
The LMA boss further noted that she has not been part of the decision taking at the LMA over the period of time of her election. According to her, she is engaged in nothing like nepotism at the LMA, as has been alleged by Siryon and others. She stated that the information in the media accusing her of being engaged in nepotism at the LMA is false, misleading and far from reality.
The LMA President informed the Hot Pepper that her son was employed unknown to her by CEO Siryon and the board chair. She added that she did not want her son to get employment with the LMA. The LMA President expressed disappointment in CEO Siryon and Board Chair Lusu Slon for giving out wrong information to the media about her.
She explained that CEO Siryon and Board Chair Slon are the people running the LMA, without her input. “My office has over the years been seriously undermined by Siryon and Board Chair Lusu Slon,” Sambolah added.
The LMA President explained that, absolutely, she has no control over financial transactions at the institution. She informed the public that CEO Siryon and the board members have respect for her office. On the issue of her going to work everyday, she said nothing in the LMA constitution states she should go to work everyday.
According to her, CEO Siryon and Lusu Slon are fighting her because the both of them want to contest in the coming LMA election, which is expected to take place next year February. “Because I am doing the right thing at the LMA is also one of the main things they are spreading false information in the media about me,” emphasized Sambolah. She voiced out that usually she does not budget salaries and benefits without the approval of the board.
According to her, the employees’ salaries and other benefits have not been coming on time. The LMA President stated that CEO Siryon and members of the board are sitting on the funding they are collecting from marketers.
She also said she wants her leadership audited, adding that her leadership stands for transparency and accountability.
The LMA President with immediately effect announced Aaron Karboi as Acting Board Chair of the LMA, and that Lusu Slon has been suspended as the Board Chair of the LMA.
According to her, it was the same Lusu Slon who undermined former LMA President Alice Yarba’s administration. She is also informing the general public not to do business with Lusu Slon in the name of the LMA.
Meanwhile, Sambolah has announced that she will again contest for the LMA presidency, set for next year. She concluded by saying that she will not support anything like interim leadership at the LMA.
It can be recalled that CEO Siryon, through the public relation officer of the LMA, Morris Brown, accused Elizabeth Sambolah of mastering confusion at the LMA.
In that press conference, public relations officer Brown also accused Sambolah of nepotism at the LMA.