Over the weekend President Joseph Nyuma Boakai suspended, with immediate effect, Matthew Nyanplu from his position as Assistant Minister for Information Services at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism.
According to an Executive Mansion press release, the disciplinary action against Nyanplu stemmed from his breach of intra-agency communication protocols, sidestepping of norms of best practice, and acts unbecoming of a government official, especially one in the capacity as a spokesman, and would serve the suspension without pay and be subjected to an investigation to determine the need for further action.
According to the release, the suspension of Nyanplu arises squarely out of his brazen disregard of established channels, not the merits or demerits of the issues he highlighted.
However, the suspended Assistant Minister, Nyanplu, has resigned effective immediately from his position, noting that he feels that he has been unjustly targeted by some powerful people who are in President Boakai’s inner circle because of his critical post on Facebook, which denounces the foreign minister’s “deceptive announcement of a US$25 million ‘work-study loan’ program for 250 Liberians in the United States”.
“I believe I have committed no wrong to necessitate this action against me, and I feel that I have been very unjustly targeted by some powerful people who are in your inner circle because of my critical post on Facebook of November 15, 2024 denouncing the national disgrace that the Foreign Minister has brought upon our country, by her unqualified association with NEKOTECH and her premature and deceptive announcement of a $25 million ‘work-study loan’ program for 250 Liberians in the United States,” Nyanplu’s resignation letter to President Boakai noted.
Nyanplu warned that public officials that err must own up to their errors and apologize to the country. “This is what integrity is. They cannot cover up their actions and use power to suppress junior officials [as they have done to me] who come out in defense of the public. I have a very clear conscience. I remain faithful to the country and to the people. I leave the job a happy man, and I will be available whenever the country needs me and is ready to tolerate dissent,” Nyanplu’s letter continued.
