Foreign Ministry Refutes Wynee Cummings Wilson’s Claims -Gives Details; But Ms. Wilson Says She’s being Intimidated

MONROVIA: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reacted to a video recording of Madam Wynee Cummings Wilson, former Apprentice at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations in New York, that is making rounds on social media in which Madam Wilson claimed to be an employee of the Mission.

The Ministry refuted as falsehood, information by Madam Wynee Cummings Wilson which is trending on the social media that she is an employee of the Permanent Mission and that she is being witch-hunted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah.

A Foreign Ministry release said the truth is that Madam Wynee Cummings Wilson was never an employee of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations, as she wants the public to believe. Instead, the Ministry said Madam Wilson was an “apprentice” to learn more about the United Nations System, where she desires to seek a future career according to her repeated vocal expressions.

The Ministry further indicated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has not witch-hunted her and that it is absolutely not in the business of witch-hunting anybody including Madam Wynee Cummings Wilson.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the release noted, did not have any prior knowledge of the reported incidence at Liberia’s Permanent Mission in New York involving Madam Wynee Cummings Wilson, Former Apprentice on Monday, November 6, 2023 as the Minister has been preoccupied with intensive national and international engagements.

“The Ministry asserts that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has consistently maintained absolute innocence of all Madam Wynee Cummings Wilson’s accusations, as he has described such allegations as false, misleading, politically motivated and an integral part of a long-time “Takedown Campaign” against him, sharply contrary to his longstanding hard earned reputation,” the release asserted.

Additionally, the release was signed by the Assistant Minister for Public Affairs at the Foreign Ministry David K. B. Akoi said, on June 7, 2023, the Department of Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs again informed and reminded Madam Wilson to submit all relevant documents, including, but not limited to either United States Resident Permit, commonly referred to as Green Card or a proof of United States Citizenship.

The request for these documents, according to the release, is to enable the Ministry to regularize her status for employment at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations as is required for employment of all local staff at all Embassies/Foreign Missions of the Republic of Liberia around the World.

The communication further informed Madam Wilson of the requirements of the host country, the United States of America, and the United Nations Protocol for registration and completion of the employment process, which includes a green card or citizenship, or work authorization, the most recent I-94 record, a valid passport, and a visa, if not a United States citizen or Green Card holder, to approve an employee’s registration at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and to facilitate the issuance of an identification card, along with a complete registration with the UN Protocol and Liaison Service, the Minister indicated in the release.

The release quoted the Ministry as emphasizing that Madam Wynee Cummings Wilson failed to submit the requested required documents up to the June 30, 2023 deadline, and even up to press time to have enabled the Ministry to regularize her status for employment at the Permanent Mission of Liberia at the United Nations in New York and registration with the host country and the United Nations in New York.

“Therefore, the Ministry is notifying you, Ms. Wynee Cummings Wilson, by this communication, that as of July 1, 2023, the Ministry would remove your name from the compensation of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations”, a communication sent to Madam Wilson months ago from the Department of Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reads.

The release stated that at the Permanent Mission in New York, where Madam Wilson was serving as an “apprentice”, the Ministry received information that the Mission held meetings with Madam Wilson and repeatedly requested Madam Wilson to submit an application for the post she wished to occupy as well as all necessary immigration documentation in her possession to regularize her status.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the release said, urged Madam to obtain employment with the Mission and ensure her registration with the host country and the United Nations, these requested documents must be made available.

The Permanent Mission or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the press release explained, is not in possession of a copy of any appointment letter addressed to Madam Wilson, noting that she is the only person at the Permanent Mission without an identification card because she has refused to submit any documentation to the Permanent Mission but rather has informed the “Mission to instruct the Ministry to employ her and not play game with her.”

The Ministry requested Ms. Wynee Cummings Wilson to desist from using the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister for Administration, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Liberia, Deputy Permanent Representative of Liberia to the United Nations and any other officials for that matter, as scapegoats for her inability to submit the requested required documents.

Instead, the Ministry is asking her to focus on regularizing her immigration status in the United States of America, and obtaining other requested required documents that she has proven unable to submit, which are all necessary imperative requirements to change her status from an “apprentice” to employee at the Permanent Mission of Liberia to United Nations in New York and registration with host Country and the United Nations in New York.

Accordingly, the Ministry made it abundantly clear to Madam Wynee Cummings Wilson that no level of scapegoating of the Minister of Foreign Affairs,  Deputy Minister for Administration, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Liberia , Deputy Permanent Representative of Liberia to the United Nations and any other official within the framework of the Ministry for that matter, would have changed her status from an “apprentice” to an employee of the Permanent Mission of Liberia to the United Nation in New York as the only means to such a change would have been the submission  of all the requested required documents in line with policy.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs further indicates that similar action was taken against other staff at the same Permanent Mission and other Foreign missions of Liberia, such as the Washington Mission, Addis Ababa Mission, and Abidjan Mission, who were in similar situation without the requested required documentation, but were very cooperative with the Ministry.

Meanwhile, in a press statement issued by Madam Wynee Cummings Wilson on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, she stated her side of the story and denied the allegation made against her.

“My name is Wynee Cummings Wilson, a staff at the Permanent Mission of Liberia to the United Nations in New York, serving in the capacity as secretary.

“First and foremost, I read Robert Sammie’s statement, written for Minister Kemayah and branded as “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release. Let me inform all of you that Robert Sammie is the National Chairman of the MOVEE political party and is being ordered to defend his so-called political leader Minister Kemayah. So, it is understandable. However, my complaint is not directed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and do not see the reason why the ministry is “refuting” my allegations or except we are saying that the ministry and Minister Kemayah are one and the same. The fact is that Minister Kemayah hired a private lawyer (see attached) when I first complained him on September 3, 2020. I did not see any press statement issued by the ministry “refuting” my allegation. My action is solely directed at an individual, Minister Kemayah.

“For the record, I am not an “apprentice”! My bank account reflecting salary payments to me does not carry such title.

“This is a diabolical lie intended to mislead the public from the accused Minister, Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, who has no morals, no principles, and no values.

“These deliberate distortions, represent a pattern of harassments, intimidations,  retaliations, and retributions by Minister Kemayah since I reported him for sexual harassment to the Office of Foreign Missions at the United States Department of State in September 2020.

“For the last six (6) months, Minister Kemayah has refused to authorize my salary payments and ordered that I be removed from payroll. However, for service to country, I have continued to go to work regularly with the hope that all the complaints made to  senior officials of government in Monrovia regarding my treatment at the Permanent Mission in the hands of Minister Kemayah and cronies will yield fruitful results. Also, quite recently, he ordered that I be prevented from entering the office. To date, all of appeals to address my situation have fallen on deaf ears as I have not received a penny of my salary owed me.

“Regarding the reference to my employment eligibility as a “Local Staff” at

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations, the United States Mission to the United Nations provided clarity, here under, on this matter, which was forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia:

“Individuals with a valid work authorization are allowed to be employed as a local hire by a Permanent Mission.”; An individual’s work authorization, or employment eligibility, refers to his or her legal right to work in the United States.”

“I provided on multiple occasions, as requested, my valid Employment Authorization document in keeping with United States law to enable me to work as a “Local” staff at the permanent mission. Since September 2019, I have functioned as a secretary but a “local” staff.

“How come I was placed on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs payroll and received salaries when Minister Kemayah was Ambassador?

“How did I get on the Ministry’s payroll and receive monthly salary for over three (3) years? Why all of a sudden after I reported the sexual harassment by Minister Kemayah, then I am no longer a staff of the Permanent Mission but without a termination letter? Did I not meet the host country’s requirements? Or does this mean that the Permanent Mission of Liberia to the United Nations was in violation of the host country’s laws?

“Finally, I believe the action taken against me on Monday, November 6, 2023, was a continuation of the pattern of harassments, intimidations, retaliations, and  retributions by Minister Kemayah to silence me from speaking out. Let the word go forth that Minister Kemayah cannot break my spirit to fight for justice. No matter what Minister Kemayah throws my way, he will account for his actions either willingly or he will be forced to through the appropriate laws.

“I appreciate all of the support and I asked for your continues prayers”, Madam Wynn Cummings Wilson concluded.

See full text of Wynee Cummings Wilson’s response to Minister Dee Maxwell Kemayah’s Press release below:

Statement in response to Minister Dee Maxwell Kemayah’s Press Release issued on Wednesday, November 8, 2023

My name is Wynee Cummings Wilson, a staff at the Permanent Mission of Liberia to the United Nations in New York, serving in the capacity as secretary.

First and foremost, I read Robert Sammie’s statement, written for Minister Kemayah and branded as “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release. Let me inform all of you that Robert Sammie is the National Chairman of the MOVEE political party and is being ordered to defend his so-called political leader Minister Kemayah. So, it is understandable. However, my complaint is not directed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and do not see the reason why the ministry is “refuting” my allegations or except we are saying that the ministry and Minister Kemayah are one and the same. The fact is that Minister Kemayah hired a private lawyer (see attached) when I first complained him on September 3, 2020. I did not see any press statement issued by the ministry “refuting” my allegation. My action is solely directed at an individual, Minister Kemayah.

For the record, I am not an “apprentice”! My bank account reflecting salary payments to me does not carry such title.

This is a diabolical lie intended to mislead the public from the accused Minister, Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, who has no morals, no principles, and no values.

These deliberate distortions, represent a pattern of harassments, intimidations,  retaliations, and retributions by Minister Kemayah since I reported him for sexual harassment to the Office of Foreign Missions at the United States Department of State in September 2020.

For the last six (6) months, Minister Kemayah has refused to authorize my salary payments and ordered that I be removed from payroll. However, for service to country, I have continued to go to work regularly with the hope that all the complaints made to  senior officials of government in Monrovia regarding my treatment at the Permanent Mission in the hands of Minister Kemayah and cronies will yield fruitful results. Also, quite recently, he ordered that I be prevented from entering the office. To date, all of appeals to address my situation have fallen on deaf ears as I have not received a penny of my salary owed me.

Regarding the reference to my employment eligibility as a “Local Staff” at

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations, the United States Mission to the United Nations provided clarity, here under, on this matter, which was forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia:

“Individuals with a valid work authorization are allowed to be employed as a local hire by a Permanent Mission.”; An individual’s work authorization, or employment eligibility, refers to his or her legal right to work in the United States.”

I provided on multiple occasions, as requested, my valid Employment Authorization document in keeping with United States law to enable me to work as a “Local” staff at the permanent mission. Since September 2019, I have functioned as a secretary but a “local” staff.

How come I was placed on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs payroll and received salaries when Minister Kemayah was Ambassador?

How did I get on the Ministry’s payroll and receive monthly salary for over three (3) years? Why all of a sudden after I reported the sexual harassment by Minister Kemayah, then I am no longer a staff of the Permanent Mission but without a termination letter? Did I not meet the host country’s requirements? Or does this mean that the Permanent Mission of Liberia to the United Nations was in violation of the host country’s laws?

Finally, I believe the action taken against me on Monday, November 6, 2023, was a continuation of the pattern of harassments, intimidations, retaliations, and  retributions by Minister Kemayah to silence me from speaking out. Let the word go forth that Minister Kemayah cannot break my spirit to fight for justice. No matter what Minister Kemayah throws my way, he will account for his actions either willingly or he will be forced to through the appropriate laws.

I appreciate all of the support and I asked for your continues prayers.

Wynee Cummings Wilson

Wednesday, November 8, 2023