Africa-Press – Liberia. The Liberia Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently finds itself in the midst of a heated controversy surrounding the tenure of its Executive Director, Wilson Tarpeh, and the dismissal of Benjamin S. Karmorh, Jr., the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), on allegations of criminal misconduct.
On January 25, 2024, the EPA released a press statement accusing Karmorh of orchestrating an unauthorized takeover of power at the agency and leading a group that disrupted its normal operations on January 23, 2024.
The statement further claimed that Karmorh, along with two suspended employees and others, falsely assumed the position of the agency’s head, casting doubt on Tarpeh’s legitimacy. In response to his dismissal, Karmorh strongly denied the allegations, characterizing his termination as unsubstantiated.
He accused Tarpeh of clinging to his position at the EPA and lacking the legal authority to dismiss him as Chief Technical Advisor. Karmorh asserted that his dismissal and attempts to silence other EPA staff members were deliberate actions aimed at suppressing professionals and technocrats who scrutinize the agency’s operations.
He announced his plans to seek legal recourse, alleging violations of the EPA Act and labeling Tarpeh’s actions as a witch hunt. Karmorh also referred to Executive Order 123, issued by former President George M. Weah, to argue that non-tenured presidential appointees should be considered having resigned as of the inauguration date.
He claimed that the order applied to the EPA and urged the government to appoint an Acting Executive Director to restore order within the agency.
The EPA, in response, clarified that Karmorh’s reliance on Executive Order 123 was misplaced, stating that the order is intended for non-tenured entities and does not extend to tenured agencies like the EPA.
The agency defended its decision to dismiss Karmorh, citing the gravity of his impersonation and the disruption caused, which it claims brought public embarrassment to the EPA. The power struggle between Tarpeh and Karmorh continues to deepen, raising questions about the future direction and stability of the Liberia EPA.
Meanwhile, while Tarpeh is fighting to hold, his principal deputy—the Deputy Executive Director, Randall Dobayou, has, according to reports, since packed up his belongings and left the agency.
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