By Amos Harris
The Board of Directors of the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has announced that the suspension of its Deputy Director General for Operations and Technical Services, Alpha Gongolee, remains in full force pending the conclusion of formal administrative processes.
In an official statement, the Board explained that this clarification became necessary following the circulation of social media videos and reports claiming that Gongolee had been cleared of all allegations and subsequently reinstated to his position. LACRA stressed that these reports are misleading, do not reflect the official position of the Board, and that no decision has been made to lift the suspension while the matter remains under active review.
According to the Board, Gongolee was initially suspended after allegations surfaced that he authorized the export of cocoa by Zeno Company without complying with LACRA’s established regulatory procedures. The Authority alleged that this action bypassed the institution’s proper chain of command and directly violated official export and shipping protocols.
LACRA further noted that the suspension was not based solely on the Zeno Company incident. Instead, the decision followed a series of allegations involving the unauthorized issuance of export permits to cocoa exporters who had reportedly failed to meet the Authority’s regulatory requirements. The Board raised serious concerns over these repeated actions, stating they may have undermined the overall integrity of Liberia’s agricultural commodity export system.
As part of its initial response to the Zeno Company case, the Board formally requested the Liberia National Police to conduct an investigation and submit its findings directly to the Board for administrative review. However, the Board expressed deep concern that established investigative procedures were breached. It claimed that instead of the report being delivered directly to the Board as the requesting authority, the findings were reportedly provided to the subject of the investigation and subsequently circulated on social media.
Because the official reporting channel was compromised, the Board stated it cannot validate or recognize any investigative findings currently circulating in the public domain. Consequently, the Board maintains that it has not yet formally received an official investigative report for its consideration.
As a result, LACRA confirms that Gongolee’s suspension remains in effect indefinitely while internal administrative concerns relating to alleged collusion and procedural violations remain unresolved. The Authority emphasized that its internal disciplinary and administrative measures are entirely lawful and consistent with established procedures governing public institutions. It maintained that its decisions will not be influenced by social media campaigns, misinformation, or external pressure.
LACRA assured stakeholders, development partners, and the public that its regulatory operations continue without disruption. The management reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and protecting the integrity of Liberia’s agricultural commodity trade sector. The Board concluded by urging the public to disregard unverified reports, highlighting its concern over a purported clearance report circulating publicly without any official reference or endorsement from the Board regarding the outcome of the investigation.