The Secretariat of the Unity Party Youth Congress (UPYC) says it has studied the May 31, 2026 press statement issued by the Board of Directors of the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) concerning the indefinite suspension of Deputy Director General for Operations and Technical Services, Alpha Gongolee, and demands that the board turn Gongolee over to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) for full corruption investigation.
A press release issued over the weekend and signed by Chirs D. Pokan, Deputy Secretary of the Unity Party Youth Congress, says, “While the Secretariat of the UPYC commends LACRA’s board for maintaining the suspension and resisting what appears to be a coordinated social media campaign to mislead the public, we note with grave concern that the board’s action thus far rely solely on an internal investigation and a Liberia National Police (LNP) inquiry that were allegedly linked to the accused.”
According to the release, given the serious nature of the allegations, including authorizing Zeno Company and other unscrupulous businessmen to export cocoa, in flagrant violation of regulatory protocols, bypassing chain of command, and establishing a pattern of unauthorized export permits, the UPYC Secretariat says it holds that administrative suspension and police inquiry are wholly insufficient.
“Cocoa smuggling undermines Liberia’s agricultural trade integrity, deprives the national treasury of legitimate revenues, and emboldens systemic corruption. A Deputy Director General accused of facilitating such illicit exports cannot be allowed to face only internal board procedures or a police investigation that has already suffered procedural breaches,” the release observed.
Consequently, the Secretariat of the Unity Party Youth Congress has called on the LACRA Board of Directors to immediately refer Gongolee and all relevant evidence to the LACC for a comprehensive, independent, and transparent investigation into all allegations of corruption, collusion, unauthorized permit issuance, and cocoa smuggling; ensure that the LACC’s final findings, along with any recommendations for prosecution or administrative action, are formally submitted to President Joseph N. Boakai for appropriate action, including dismissal, blacklisting from public service, and referral to the Ministry of Justice for criminal prosecution, if warranted.
The UP Youth Secretariat further demanded that the LACC expedite the investigation given the sensitivity of the agricultural export sector and the potential for on-going economic sabotage.
“We reject any attempt to shield a senior public official through half-measures. The board’s own statement admits a ‘pattern of repeated allegations’. This is no longer a simple administrative matter; it is a corruption crisis that requires the full weight of the LACC and the President’s oversight,” the release warned.
The Secretariat of the Unity Party Youth Congress reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, and vowed to continue following the matter closely. “We will not hesitate to mobilize public vigilance should any attempt be made to whitewash the investigation or reinstate Hon. Gongolee without a clean bill of health from the LACC,” the release emphasized.
