Labor Minister Refutes ‘Image-Harming’ Reports Against Him -Provides Evidential Exhibits Clearing Any Wrongdoing
MONROVIA – The Minister of Labor, Cllr Cooper W. Kruah, has done perhaps what many newspaper accusers would hardly do – providing step by step explanation and financial details including documents – to rubbish reports by a local media organization which he said “is a deliberate attempt to tarnish his good image.”
Responding to the April 28, 2025 story by the Verity Newspaper under the caption “Travel Bonaza”, alleging that the minister had attend an international conference in Luxembourg, for five (5) days, but that he inflated the period up to 21 to accommodate his wife at the expense of government, Cllr Kruah in a meeting with media representatives displayed verifiable accounting papers that state otherwise.
According to the Minister, this story is completely false and misleading, in that he was invited by the Honorable Minister of Labor of the Kingdom of Luxembourg, His Excellency Georges Mischo, to attend the Global Government Summit 2025, on “Shaping the Future of Social Innovation” and bulk of the cost was on the host country.
The Conference ran from the 9th to the 11th of April, 2025, meaning that the DSA, per-diems and incidentals, covering the conference, while the means of travel (air ticket) and accommodation (hotel) were all borne by the host country.
Documents exhibited showed that the total DSA, per-diem and incidental for the trip was US$3,840, paid on Check No. 301191263, drawn on GT Bank, including DSA, US$2,325.00; per-diem 835, incidental, US4$680.00.
The Minister further told the media that after the approval for this trip was given by the President of Liberia, dated March 18, 2025 under the signature of Presidential Affairs Minister, Hon. Sylvester Grigsby, he addressed another letter to the President, dated April 3, 2025, requesting for two weeks after the conference in Luxembourg, to do his medical in New Delhi, India – for a laser surgery to remove a cataract from his right eye.
“Given the importance of the eye surgery in India, the Minister requested his wife, a medical Doctor, Bendu S. Kruah, to join him in India before his surgery at their family’s personal expense,” his office recalled.
The Minister therefore travelled from Luxembourg to New Delhi, India, for his surgery on Wednesday April 16, 2025, and because there was no complication, he decided not to not wait for the 27th of April, but to return to Liberia on the 24th of April, 2025.
“Absolutely, the cost of the surgery, along with the cost of the travel of the Minister’s wife, Dr. Kruah, to be by her husband’s side during the surgery, has nothing, absolutely to do with Government, as all relevant costs were borne by the Kruahs,” said his office in a special statement on the matter.
But regrettably, the minister’s office indicated, the Verity Newspaper wrote what is described as “an inflammatory story without even contacting the Minister and without any reference to the Comptroller of the Ministry of Labor, who is responsible for Financial Records.”
For the purpose of demonstrating clarity and evidence, the Minister’s office produced copies of the vouchers and the check for monies signed for before making the trip.
“Let it be known that the Minister reserves his right to any other remedy under the circumstances, because this story is a deliberate attempt to tarnish the good image of the Minister,” the office said.
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