Africa-Press – Liberia. The interim leadership said its efforts are intended to restore institutional credibility, stabilize operations, and align LACRA’s work with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda.
The interim management of the Liberia Agriculture Commodities Regulatory Authority (LACRA) is facing criticism for implementing a series of sweeping administrative and policy changes, in what appears to be a violation of President Joseph Boakai’s directive limiting the authority of acting officials.
In a press statement issued Monday, Interim Director General Dan Torkamawon Saryee and Interim Deputy Director for Administration and Finance Adolphus Forkpa outlined a reform plan aimed at restructuring LACRA.
The measures include the review of contractor agreements, implementation of new technologies, strict enforcement of internal discipline, and what the interim team calls a zero-tolerance approach to internal sabotage.
The interim leadership said its efforts are intended to restore institutional credibility, stabilize operations, and align LACRA’s work with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda.
However, their actions appear to contravene a November 28, 2024 directive from President Boakai, which clearly states that acting heads of ministries, agencies, and commissions should function only as Officers-in-Charge (OICs).
The directive limits them to implementing existing decisions and prohibits new financial, policy, or personnel changes unless explicitly approved by a substantive head or cleared by the Office of the President.
“Acting heads must recognize their temporary roles and refrain from exceeding their authority,” the President stated in the directive at the time. “Such actions can disrupt governance and erode public trust.”
Despite this guidance, the interim LACRA management has taken decisions viewed by many as exceeding their temporary mandate. Their announcements included workforce changes, contractor reviews, accusations of political interference, and internal restructuring — moves typically reserved for permanent leadership.
Internal sources and governance observers have expressed concern that such actions undermine President Boakai’s directive and could set a precedence for similar overreach in other government institutions.
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