"Don’t Take My Silence for Granted," Suspended NaFAA Boss Emma Glassco Calls Out Government over Persistent State Harassments

Monrovia, Liberia: In what appears to be a strong rebuttal to what she described as ongoing harassment from the Government of Liberia, the suspended Director-General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Madam Emma Metieh Glassco, has accused the Liberian government of conducting a politically motivated campaign to tarnish her professional reputation.

By: Abraham Sylvester Panto

In a pointed Facebook post on Monday, June 2, 2025, Madam Glassco asserted that her critics utilized staged protests, ongoing character assassination efforts, and smear media campaigns to undermine her leadership and facilitate her removal from a position she claimed was marked by measurable reforms and significant international partnerships, particularly in enhancing investment and development in Liberia’s fisheries sector.

Madam Glassco was suspended without a public explanation or audit findings and condemned what she described as a deliberate effort to erase her accomplishments and fabricate grievances to justify her removal, arguing that no evidence of mismanagement or misconduct has been presented by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).

She asserted that the Weah-led administration secured millions in development financing and established Liberia as a credible maritime stakeholder during her leadership.

Amid increasing silence from relevant oversight institutions and a lack of public documentation to substantiate the decision against her, Madam Glassco’s comments have reignited the debate about the politicization of autonomous agencies.

She pointed out that reform is being misused as a pretext to marginalize professionals who operate free from political influence.

Her post characterized the campaign against her as a “vicious smear,” emphasizing the dangers of targeting public servants without due process. To protect her reputation and seek redress, Madam Glassco has initiated legal action, including a US$15 million lawsuit against the government, claiming unlawful dismissal, reputational harm, and targeted harassment.

These legal proceedings are expected to test the limits of political authority and may provide new perspectives on how executive powers are exercised concerning semi-autonomous entities in the Liberian public sector.

The suspended NaFAA head further contended that while she accepted the loss of her position, how it occurred signals a concerning trend of politically motivated purging rather than performance-based governance. She cautioned that such actions erode confidence in the civil service and deter capable professionals from pursuing public roles.