By: Staff Writer
Monrovia -What appears to be a major tension has started mounting at the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) as two members of the institution’s board have decided to give themselves administrative positions while still serving on the board. Former Margibi County Senator Oscar Cooper and former CARI Director General Dr. Walter Wiles have appointed themselves as Finance Officer and Deputy Director General for Research respectively despite the same board members announcing vacancies for the positions.
The two men have already setup their offices at the institute. In line with the act establishing CARI, the positions are to be advertised by the board and recruit names be submitted to the President for appointment. Staffs have started questioning the latest decision of the board members to force themselves in administration while still serving on the board. They believe their action is intended to undermine the current Director General of the institute Dr. Arthur Bob Karnuah who is being widely praised for uplifting the institution since his recruitment by the board and subsequent appointment by the President. Some staffs have vowed to protest against the board members for intentionally violating the law to satisfy their selfish aims. Former CARI Director General Dr. Walter Wiles who has appointed himself as Deputy Director General for Research was indicted by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) for massive corruption during his time as Director General.
Dr. Wiles was invited by the Legislature joint committee on public account to answer to corruption charges but refused to appear although some of those accused in the GAC report appeared before the committee to clear their names. Within the period of the legislative inquiry, Dr. Wiles quickly left the country and traveled to the United States. Some staffs have vowed to resist the board members with their all stating that Wiles’ administration at the institute was an absolute disaster and can no longer sit and see his return in the administration of the institute. “How can you be on the board of an institution and take up administrative position? “This is a complete violation of our laws” some of them told this paper. They maintained that former Margibi County Senator Oscar Cooper and former DG Walter Wiles want to be players and referees at the same time. They have accused Agriculture Minister Dr. Alexander Nuetah who is the Chair of the Board of being behind the plot. One of the Board members former Agriculture Minister Dr. Moses Zinnah has refused to take administrative position at CARI while serving on the board stating that he has never seen this before in his professional life. Staffs have applauded Dr. Moses Zinnah for his stance, describing it as an act of professionalism and maturity. They want President Joseph Boakai to with immediate effect take former Senator Oscar Cooper and Dr. Walter Wiles from the Board of the institute for what they call greed and intention to steal from the institution as he did during his tenure that led to his indictment by the GAC. They have vowed to do everything in their power to resist the board members from coming into administration.
