By Amos Harris
The Vanguard Student Unification Party (SUP) has announced plans to declare the University of Liberia (UL) a “no-go zone” for National Port Authority (MD) Managing Director Sekou Dukuly. This move intensifies public scrutiny over allegations that Dukuly has failed to fully remit millions of dollars owed to the national budget while simultaneously making a high-profile donation to the country’s flagship public university.
SUP’s decision follows Dukuly’s recent US$1 million donation to the University of Liberia, a gesture the student movement has characterized as “morally questionable” and potentially unlawful. The group claims that the NPA, under Dukuly’s leadership, has failed to meet significant financial obligations to the Government of Liberia. According to SUP militants, the NPA reportedly paid only US$3 million of a US$7 million obligation in 2024 and has allegedly made no payments toward the US$7 million required for the 2025 fiscal year.
In a sharply worded statement, SUP accused the NPA boss of attempting to “buy public goodwill” while neglecting his statutory responsibilities to the state. The group argued that funds donated to the university should have first been remitted to the national treasury, particularly as the government faces mounting fiscal pressures and public institutions continue to struggle with chronic underfunding.
SUP further alleged that the unpaid balance, estimated at US$11 million, raises serious questions regarding financial transparency and accountability at the National Port Authority. Militants have demanded immediate clarity on the whereabouts of these remaining funds, warning that charitable gestures must not be used to deflect attention from unresolved obligations to the Liberian people.
“No individual, regardless of position or connections, should be allowed to sidestep accountability,” SUP stated, vowing to resist any appearance by Dukuly on the University of Liberia campus until the matter is fully addressed. The student group maintains that the rule of law and financial integrity must take precedence over philanthropic displays.
As of press time, neither the University of Liberia administration nor Sekou Dukuly has publicly responded to these allegations. Government authorities have also remained silent, a move that has further fueled concerns among students and civil society actors who argue that selective enforcement of financial regulations undermines public trust in the administration.
The unfolding controversy adds to the broader national debate regarding governance, transparency, and the management of state-owned enterprises under the current government. The situation remains tense as the student body awaits a formal response from the involved parties.
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