Bong County, Liberia – A burgeoning scandal threatens to derail President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ambitious agricultural revitalization plans, as allegations surface accusing Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA), and Representative Foday E. Fahnbulleh of orchestrating chaos within the Fuamah District Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, a vital agricultural group comprising over 900 farmers.
A two-month investigation has revealed a pattern of non-cooperation and alleged sabotage by Minister Nuetah, stemming from personal animosity towards Prince D. Peters, the elected president of the Fuamah Multi-Purpose Cooperative Development Society. This alleged campaign has been further compounded by the actions of CDA Registrar General, Madam Lwopu G. Kandakai, and the perceived acquiescence of Representative Fahnbulleh of Bong County Electoral District #7.
The CDA, established in 1936, is mandated to oversee the development and regulation of cooperative societies across Liberia, crucial for enhancing local agricultural production. However, under Madam Kandakai’s leadership, the agency is now being accused of enabling Minister Nuetah’s alleged vindictive actions, rather than fulfilling its protective and developmental role.
Attempts to obtain comments from both the CDA and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) have been met with silence. Registrar General Kandakai has reportedly refused to address inquiries, and Minister Nuetah has remained unreachable.
The turmoil began on December 6, 2024, during President Boakai’s launch of a 900-hectare rice harvest initiative by the Fuamah Cooperative. Minister Nuetah, in an apparent attempt to impress the President, claimed the government, through the MoA, had fully funded the project. This assertion was swiftly refuted by Mr. Peters, who clarified that the project was supported by the World Bank’s Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP), with logistical assistance only.
Mr. Tarnue N. Jeke, RETRAP Operations Manager at the MoA, corroborated Mr. Peters’ account, praising his leadership in uniting farmers. Sources suggest that Minister Nuetah, angered by this public correction, initiated a plot to remove Mr. Peters from his leadership position.
Initial attempts to link Mr. Peters to corruption proved futile. Subsequently, Minister Nuetah allegedly sought to install a proxy, Mr. Zulu P. Zayzay, but this effort was also unsuccessful. Following Mr. Zayzay’s alleged involvement in a legal issue, Minister Nuetah reportedly enlisted the help of Representative Fahnbulleh, whom Mr. Peters had supported in the 2023 elections, to persuade Mr. Peters to resign.
Representative Fahnbulleh allegedly admitted that Minister Nuetah was unwilling to work with the cooperative under Mr. Peters’ leadership and encouraged his resignation, despite acknowledging no wrongdoing on Mr. Peters’ part. Mr. Peters, however, has insisted on a public statement clearing his name, a demand allegedly rejected by both the CDA and the MoA, despite seven audits yielding no evidence of financial malpractice.
Representative Fahnbulleh, contacted on March 4, 2025, initially requested a delay in publication, claiming to be mediating a solution. However, he later admitted that Minister Nuetah was indeed incensed by Mr. Peters’ public statements and was determined not to collaborate with the cooperative under his leadership. He further suggested that Mr. Peters’ impending term expiration could be used as a rationale for his departure, contingent on the issuance of a clearance report, which remains unforthcoming.
Mr. Peters has expressed profound disappointment in Representative Fahnbulleh’s alleged betrayal. The unfolding events at the Fuamah Cooperative raise serious concerns about the potential undermining of President Boakai’s vision for agricultural advancement.
President Boakai has demonstrated a commitment to revitalizing Liberia’s agriculture sector, evidenced by Executive Order No. 139, which suspended tariffs on agricultural products, and the launch of the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP), a six-year blueprint aimed at achieving food self-sufficiency. The alleged actions of Minister Nuetah and the CDA stand in stark contrast to these initiatives, potentially jeopardizing the President’s goals for a more secure and sustainable agricultural future for Liberia.
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