MONROVIA – The long-running vehicle theft case at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has resurfaced amid renewed controversy, with the institution’s Board Chairman, Dr. Stephen Kennedy, reportedly pushing for the case to be withdrawn from court. However, NPHIL’s Senior Management Team (SMT), led by Director General Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, has firmly rejected the proposal, insisting that the matter be prosecuted to ensure accountability, transparency, and the protection of government property.
“We want the NPHIL vehicle theft case heard by the court; anyone who steals government property should not go unpunished, no matter their political or other connections,” Dr. Nyan said in a series of recent interviews on local radio stations.
Sources familiar with the situation disclosed that Dr. Kennedy has been actively lobbying the court, the NPHIL Legal Department, and the Ministry of Justice to have the case dropped. Efforts to reach Dr. Kennedy for comment were unsuccessful.
A meeting held in August 2025 between Dr. Kennedy and the NPHIL leadership team to consider the request reportedly ended in a stalemate, with the SMT rejecting the Board’s proposal to withdraw the case and reinstate dismissed and suspended staff, including Darlington Bah and Quaqua Pewee.
In a letter dated August 12, 2025, signed by Dr. Nyan, the SMT formally communicated its position to the Board Chairman. “Following our discussions and consultations with members of the Senior Management Team of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, we wish to inform you that NPHIL is not in a position to withdraw the vehicle theft case from the courts, as requested,” the letter stated.
The communication further noted that upon completion of the internal investigation, a comprehensive report had been submitted to the Board, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, and Justice Minister Cllr. Oswald Tweh for further action. Those implicated, including Darlington Bah, were subsequently investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Liberia National Police and forwarded to court for prosecution.
“Should you still desire to pursue the withdrawal of the case, we advise that you directly engage the Ministry of Justice with your request and supporting reasons,” the letter added.
The SMT also raised concerns over the continued payment of salaries to dismissed and suspended staff by the Civil Service Agency (CSA). According to the letter, Quaqua Pewee and Darlington Bah have remained on the government payroll under claims of “wrongful dismissal,” despite repeated objections from NPHIL leadership.
“We have raised this issue multiple times with CSA Director General Josiah Joekai, yet the names continue to appear on the final payroll submitted to the Ministry of Finance for salary disbursement since January 2025,” the letter emphasized, calling for the Board’s intervention.
The controversy stems from actions taken in January 2025, when NPHIL leadership moved against alleged corruption within the institution. Following an internal probe, two senior officials were dismissed and several others suspended over the unauthorized removal and alleged sale of eleven government-owned vehicles.
Those dismissed included George Watson, Special Assistant to the Deputy Director for Administration, and Quaqua Pewee, Director of Logistics. Dr. Adams Lincoln, who was later identified as the alleged mastermind of the scheme, was subsequently terminated by President Boakai in October 2025.
Darlington Bah, Deputy Director for Logistics and described as a non-biological son of Dr. Kennedy, was indefinitely suspended without pay, while three drivers received three-month suspensions.
The disciplinary measures were based on the findings of a seven-member investigative committee comprising representatives from the Liberia National Police, the Internal Audit Agency, and NPHIL’s senior management. The cases were forwarded to the Ministry of Justice, which pursued further legal action, including indictments and efforts toward restitution.
Investigators uncovered evidence of fraudulent activities, including the use of forged General Services Agency (GSA) documents to facilitate the illegal sale and personal appropriation of government vehicles. A GSA employee, Franklin Philiku, was suspended and handed over to the Liberia National Police for alleged involvement in document forgery.
“Corruption will have no place at NPHIL under my watch, as it undermines the progress we are making. We remain committed to upholding the integrity and standards of this institution,” Dr. Nyan said in an official statement.
He further called on the Board of Directors and the Ministry of Justice to support the leadership’s anti-corruption drive, warning that any attempt to shield alleged culprits would undermine public trust and institutional reform.
“The NPHIL vehicle theft case brings to light systemic corruption in government and how attempts at cover-ups by some authorities can set back the quest for accountability, transparency, and good governance,” he cautioned.
Dr. Nyan also stressed the importance of aligning the institution’s anti-corruption efforts with Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which prioritizes accountability and transparency in governance.