On December 23, 2025, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) cleared former Director-General Emma Matieh-Glassco of allegations of financial improprieties and misapplication of project funds provided by the World Bank for the construction of a new headquarters for the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA). The official clearance issued to Madam Glassco stated that, the analysis from the pieces of evidence gathered during the investigation did not establish that Madam Glassco had criminal intent or liability.
Thursday, February 13, 2025, President Joseph Boakai issued a press release posted on the official Facebook page of the Executive Mansion of Liberia. The press release stated that President Boakai, with immediate effect, suspended the Director-General, Madam Glassco, for what he termed managerial and financial inefficiencies.
The release further revealed that President Boakai received from the Board of Directors of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) a resolution which allegedly stated that Madam Glassco was managerially and financially inefficient and should be investigated by the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission.
In the press release, the President acknowledged that the Board’s recommendation was in line with Section 3.9.2 of the Act that established the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority.
President Boakai has urged the suspended Director General to fully cooperate with the investigations in order to address the concerns raised. March 14, 2025, Madam Glassco release a statement on her official Facebook page. In her statement, the former Director-General claimed that her suspension by the President was politically motivated and lacked proper investigation. She further stated that the President’s decision to suspend her was a complete disservice to her contributions to NaFAA and maintained that the reasons for her dismissal were not substantiated.
Furthermore, on March 24, 2025, the suspended Director-General, Madam Glassco, filed a lawsuit at the ECOWAS Community Court, alleging “unlawful suspension, violation of tenure protection, reputational harm, emotional distress, and public humiliation.” Additionally, In her statement, Madam Glassco is asked the Court to award her USD 175,000 in damages for lost salaries and benefits for the remainder of her tenure, USD 5,000,000 in compensation for professional and psychological damage, and USD 10,000,000 in restitution for reputational harm, emotional distress, and public humiliation.
Madam Glassco is also requesting that the Court order the removal of all government-issued publications alleging financial misconduct against her and that the Government should issue a public apology to be published in national newspapers and broadcast on radio and television. Her statement posted of her official facebook page also seek reimbursement of all legal expenses in the amount of USD 250,000.
