Amid Allegations of Significant Corruption, the Manager of the National Road Fund Continues to Enjoy the Trust of President Boakai

Monrovia, Liberia: Despite the findings of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission's (LACC) investigation linking the Manager of the National Road Fund, Joseta Neufville-Wento, to embezzlement and the misapplication of a project, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has yet to take decisive action against the institution or its implicated officials.

Recently, the anti-graft institution, through its Chairperson, Alexandra Z. Zoe, announced her intention to formally indict several NRF officials following a month-long probe into allegations of corruption.

Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing, Cllr. Zoe revealed that LACC has concluded its investigation and is now working with the Ministry of Justice to draft formal indictments against the NRF boss and several others.

According to Cllr. Zoe, the investigation uncovered multiple acts of misappropriation and abuse of office between January and June 15, 2025.

Key findings from the investigation centered on the alleged diversion of 1,000 solar lamps and poles, originally intended for distribution in Grand Cape Mount County, but reportedly used for political campaigning during the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.

NRF Manager Madam Joseta Neufville-Wento and several technical consultants under her employ are being accused of misapplying project funds for personal aggrandizement.

“We have completed investigations into these allegations of corruption,” said Cllr. Zoe. “We are working closely with the Ministry of Justice to draw up indictments and ensure those involved are brought under the jurisdiction of the court for prosecution.”

The LACC Chair emphasized that the findings reflect the government's stated commitment to transparency and the fight against corruption.

However, despite the gravity of the allegations, Madam Neufville-Wento seems to be untouchable as she remains confidently at the helm of authority at the NRF.

Amidst the gravity of the LACC finding, President Boakai has instituted no public disciplinary action in response to scrutiny about the President’s consistency and impartiality in the fight against corruption.

President Boakai came to power on a strong anti-corruption platform, promising to restore integrity to public service, a message that resonated with voters who were frustrated by the past administration of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), led by former President George Manneh Weah.

Since assuming the presidency in January 2024, President Boakai has taken bold actions against corruption, including the suspension of top officials at the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA); dismissals at the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Commission (WASH); suspension of Patrick Worzi, Executive Director of the Liberia Refugees Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC); and the suspension of Madam Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), and of recent James A. S. Momoh, Superintendent of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS).

These moves have earned President Boakai enormous commendations from civil society groups and international partners. However, the deafening silence from the Executive Mansion regarding the allegation of corruption at NRF, as investigated by the LACC, raises questions about selective accountability.

Anti-graft advocates and political analysts have begun to question whether political or personal affiliations are influencing the President’s delay in addressing the NRF case. Some warn that his failure to act could erode public trust and undermine his public image as a reformer.

Cllr. Zoe also noted that the LACC is investigating several other public institutions. Cases under review or pending prosecution aim to hold both current and former officials accountable.

By statute, the LACC is tasked with investigating, preventing, and prosecuting corruption. It also conducts civic education to highlight the dangers of graft and the benefits of good governance.

As public expectation mounts, many are looking to the Executive Mansion for clarity on the administration’s next steps.

The question remains: will President Boakai reinforce his administration’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption, or allow political considerations to take precedence in the National Road Fund corruption allegations?