Liberia: Senate Summons CARI Boss Over Leaked Audio About Selling of Entity’s Assets

By KONAH RUFUS Last updated Jul 17, 2020 0Share

Gbarnga – Bong County Senator Henrique Tokpa has written a communication inviting the acting Officer-in-Charge of the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), Paulette Findley, and the Board Chair of the entity to appear before the joint committees on Autonomous Commissions, Agencies and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Wednesday, July 22 at 11:00am in the Chambers of the Liberian Senate.

Senator Tokpa, Chairman of the House’s Committee on Autonomous Commissions and Agency, said the invitation is regarding a leaked audio revealing plans by Findley and a senior staff of CARI, David Tokpah, to loot assets belonging to agency.

The audience, according to Tokpa, will also focus on the disappearance of a 50 KVA generator from the premises of the institution two months ago. That incident prompted an investigation by the Bong County’s detachment of the Liberia National Police.

Senator Tokpa said the decision of the joint committees to invite Findley and the Board Chair of the entity is to authenticate the truthfulness of the leaked audio.

“CARI as an entity of state interest which needs proper administrative management, and in keeping with our statutory functions or Oversight Responsibility, we hereby cite the entire Management Team and the Chair of the Board of Directors of CARI for a conference on Wednesday, July 22 at 11:00am in the Chambers of the Liberian Senate,” Tokpa wrote in a communication addressed to Findley.

In a FrontPageAfrica interview this week, Findley described as “stupid and nonsensical” the audio recording allegedly featuring the voices of her and a senior staff of CARI conspiring to loot the entity’s assets.

“I haven’t listened to any leaked audio yet because it doesn’t worth my time. I won’t give anyone credence on this matter,” Findley told FrontPage Africa.

“CARI has no asset that values my time to conspire to sell. CARI has scraps that need to be sold especially when the institution is faced with challenges. This is why I wrote the General Service Agency (GSA) in Bong County to sell the scraps to raise money for the entity. My request was endorsed for me to sell the scraps to raise money.”

But Tokpah, head of the Natural Resource Department of CARI, has maintained that the conversation to loot the entity’s assets was between him and Findley. Findley has also come under criticism from some residents.