By H Matthew Turry
The Executive Director of the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) has described as malicious, unfounded and misleading allegations of corruption against the Commission as levied by some sections of the local media.
In a release issued Wednesday, September 4, 2024 NCHE said its attention was drawn to the Wednesday September 4, 2024 edition of the Verity Newspaper in which a story titled, “NCHE Sinks in Abuse, Wastage and fraud,” was published.
The Commission’s Executive Director condemned the allegations which he termed “malicious, unfounded and misleading.”
“We want to say in this public manner that such an allegation against the incorruptible and erudite Executive Director is malicious, unfounded, and misleading,” said the release quoting Director Wonkeryor. “It’s all intended to tarnish my hard-earned reputation.”
“The National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) is noted for upholding the highest standards of transparency, honesty, and accountability,” Professor Wonkeryor said further.
“We want to let the public know that any insinuation or accusation to the contrary is not only false, but also deeply unfounded and erroneously characterized. We strongly believe that this is a smear campaign by detractors and people who don’t want to see good things emanate from the National Commission on Higher Education in the country.”
The statement said Dr. Wonkeryor has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, ethical conduct and dedication as a professional.
“We have full confidence in his abilities and character, and we will continue to stand by him in the face of these unfounded attacks,” the release averred, adding: “As an organization committed to truth and fairness, we will explore all avenues to address these lies and misleading information through proper channels, because such misleading information has the propensity to invite untold number of misperceptions of an individual’s personality and puritanical character”.
The September 4, 2024 edition of the Verity newspaper reported that a thorough investigation has uncovered a dossier of financial documents, including payment vouchers, requisitions, purchase orders, checks, and receipts of how Dr. Edward Wonkeryor allegedly turned NCHE into a haven of financial mismanagement, waste, and abuse.
The newspaper reported said that, “against the advice of internal auditors and in gross violation of the Public Financial Management Law of Liberia, Dr. Wonkeryor spent US$4,200 to procure furniture for his private home, US$23,000 as DSA, fuel, launch, and transportation on a data collection trip in Liberia, double payment of US$2,165 for vehicle repair, and thousands of USD in per diem.