By Stephen G. Fellajuah
MONROVIA: The newly appointed Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, has officially taken over the Agency replacing Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh, with a promise that his administration will increase the revenue of the Agency by closing what he termed as loopholes and enforcing the Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) guidelines and other revenue generation capacities.
Dr. Yarkpawolo, appointed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on February 16, 2024, indicated that the EPA is a regulator, and therefore it should be an integrity institution, adding that this means that people who work with the agency should have a very high level of integrity.
“We will therefore employ mechanisms that will ensure a high level of ethics including coming to work on time, leaving from work on time and tracking employees work activities to ensure proper accountability,” he assured
He told the employees and journalists during his taking over Sinkor, Monrovia, that he will recommend to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai constitute the National Environmental Policy Council and the EPA Board of Directors to ensure the full implementation of the Act creating the EPA.
Dr. Yarkpawolo said he will also ensure decentralization of the EPA both at the county and the district levels, reiterating that his administration will increase the revenues of the EPA by closing loopholes and enforcing ESIA guidelines and other revenue generation capacities.
“The goal will be to make the EPA self-sufficient financially. We will ensure open communication at the EPA”, he further said, adding that he will ensure adult employment at the institution as well.
Urey Yarkpawolo was appointed amidst disgruntlement by some workers that saddled the agency, as the former head of the agency was claiming that he was serving a seven-year tenure given him by past President George Manneh Weah.
The new EPA boss, promising that will increase the revenues of the EPA by closing loopholes and enforcing the ESIA guidelines as well as other revenue generation capacities, said the goal will be to make the EPA self-sufficient financially”.
Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo said the EPA is a regulator and therefore it should be an integrity institution, noting that people who work at the Agency should have a very high level of integrity.
According to him, his leadership will employ mechanisms that will ensure a high level of work ethics including coming to work on time, leaving from work on time and tracking employees work activities to ensure proper accountability and among others.
Urey Yarkpawolo was appointed to the EPA in the wake of disgruntlement amongst workers who were opposed to the Wilson Tarpeh administration of the agency.
Although some of the disgruntled workers were reportedly dismissed, the new EPA Boss also indicated that he will set up a committee to investigate circumstances leading to the dismissal of the dismissed employees at the EPA by it former Executive Director, Professor Wilson Tarpeh, and furthered that his administration at the EPA will act on the committee’s findings for subsequent recommendations to the appropriate authorities to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability into the matter.
At the program which was held in the conference room of the EPA in Monrovia on Monday, February 19, 2024, was interspersed with an impressive array of cultural display and dances and chanting of battle cry by partisans and supporters as well as officials of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP) who converged to grace the occasion.
He then assures transparency in his tenure of service at the agency. “To our national and international partners, we are here to ensure that a new day has dawned on the EPA. We promise you that a year from now, the EPA will be a force for good not only for Liberia but for the global community,” he pledged.
Prior to the turning over program, according to Chapter 11, Article 90 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, and Section 10.1 of Liberia’s 2014 Code of Conduct, as amended with Provisions on the declaration of assets by all public officers in Liberia, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo has declared his assets at the value of US$636, 600.
Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo revealed his holdings, including five houses in Liberia and one in the United States of America, with a total asset value at $636,600.00 USD. His annual income sourced from various channels, he said, stands at $157,187.00 USD.
He highlighted his commitment to the rule of law by disclosing a total liability of $349,355.00 USD, resulting in a net worth of $287,245.00 USD.
He told a brief media interaction after the submission of his assets to the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission yesterday in Congo Town that the exercise was his way of being transparent and abiding by the Code of Conduct of the Republic of Liberia.
“Following the example of the President of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nuyma Boakai, I have just declared my assets in fulfillment of the Code of Conduct. I am making my assets available to the general public through the media,” he said, and emphasized the importance of enforcement of the rule of laws, citing Aristotle’s perspective on the rule of law as fundamental to societal development.
He quoted Aristotle saying “At his best, man is the noblest of all animals” but added that if you separate man from the rule of law, which is the bedrock of justice, man is not only the worst, but he destroys society.
“This is why adherence to the rule of law and the enforcement of law are fundamental to the development of any human society. We do not have to go to the Moon to see examples of how enforcement of the rule laws changes societies,” he said, adding that one major difference between nations that are considered “developed” and nations that are “underdeveloped” is the enforcement of laws.
Borrowing from the slogan of President Boakai, Dr. Yarkpawolo called on Liberians to “Think Liberia, Love Liberia, Build Liberia” a slogan, which he said resonates with a vision of a better Liberia, as he cited that government is a place to serve and not to steal.
In his takeover statement, Delivering his special statement, Dr. Yarkpawolo expressed appreciation to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for the confidence reposed in him to be appointed to direct the affairs of the EPA in the interim while he awaits the President to appoint the National Environmental Policy Council, which has the statutory responsibility to recruit to recruit and vet the Executive Director of the EPA.
At the same time, he thanked Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe, political leader of the Liberian People’s Party for his preference as Vice Standard Bearer which landed him at the EPA under the spirit of inclusion, as he further thanked his predecessor Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh, his management and staff for the work done at the institution so far.
He then said the purpose of establishing the EPA is to be the principal authority in Liberia responsible for the management of the environment, including coordinating, monitoring, supervising and consulting with relevant stakeholders on the activities that have to do with protection of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources.
“I am grateful that we are not starting from zero. There have been a number of good things done here and we are here not to undo what has been accomplished but to build upon what has been achieved. I have seen the Strategic Plan of the EPA from 2022 to 2026. Over the next five days, we will conduct a thorough review of the plan to see what has been implemented, the ongoing project and the parts of the plan that need urgent attention,” he added
Meanwhile, the Standard Bearer of the Liberia People’s Party, Cllr, Tiawan Gongloe has congratulated Dr. Yarkparwolo on his preferment to head the EPA and his compliance to the Code of Conduct to declare his assets.
“It was an honor to witness Dr. Yarkpawolo assume the role of Acting Director of the EPA today. We have confidence in his ability to oversee the environmental performance of the EPA in accordance with the laws and regulations, while also maintaining the highest standards of honesty and integrity,” Cllr. Gongloe stated on his Facebook page.
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