ALCOP, Disaster Management Agency Drowns in the Pool of Corruption Allegations

Monrovia, Liberia: The All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP), founded by revered statesman Alhaji G. V. Kromah (late), a once formidable political force that symbolizes transparency, accountability, and good governance, currently finds itself on the verge of collapse, owing to allegations of corruption, political betrayal, and dictatorial leadership.

Founded in the early 1990s, the ALCOP quickly emerged as a beacon of hope in the political landscape of Liberia. In the 1997 Presidential Election, ALCOP’s presidential candidate, Alhaji G.V. Kromah, secured 4.02% of the vote, leading the party to win three seats in the House of Representatives and two in the Senate.

This initial success positioned ALCOP as a significant player in the body politics of Africa’s oldest republic, advocating for transparency, national unity, and democratic principles.

However, the party's political influence drastically decreased over the years, with its vote taking a downward turn from 4.02% to 2.8% in the 2005 Presidential and Legislative Elections, managing to secure a single Senate seat and two in the House of Representatives.

This downward trajectory in the party's political relevance continued with ALCOP culminating in a mere 1.96% of the vote in the 2023 presidential and legislative elections, where the party miserably failed to secure any seat in the 55^th Legislature.

While this once respected party is still struggling in its rebranding process, allegations of massive corruption, disregard for the ALCOP founding manifesto, and dictatorial leadership style have bugged National Chairman Ansu Dulleh.

Several allegations have tied Chairman Dulleh’s leadership to widespread mismanagement, self-enrichment, and a blatant disregard for upholding ALCOP integrity, a situation that had nicknamed him “embattled chairman." 

And as if this worrisome situation in ALCOP is not devastating enough, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), where the embattled ALCOP’s Chairman is in full control as Executive Director, is currently fighting to redeem its once-admired image because Dulleh also faces allegations of corruption and administrative malpractice.

Under Dulleh's chairmanship, ALCOP's decline accelerated, marred by allegations of financial mismanagement of party resources intended for grassroots campaigns, and operational efficiency reportedly vanished without accountability. 

Assets such as a Hummer Jeep H3 Surveillance Utility Vehicle (SUV) donated by Sheikh Sackor, air conditioners, and a generator contributed by Representative Musa Hassan Bility also remain unaccounted for.

In addition, a pickup truck assigned to the party, including two other vehicles intended for the party's operations, vanished in the air without any justifiable explanation. It is alleged that the pickup truck is being used for Chairman Dulleh’s personal local mineral water business venture.

Despite diaspora contributions spanning from 2018 to 2023 and other financial inflows, no formal financial reports have been presented, leaving party members disillusioned and enraged.

Compounding these issues are credible reports suggesting that ALCOP's embattled chairman has been covertly working to establish a rival political entity, the All Liberia Congress Party, reinforcing suspicions that his commitment to ALCOP was a calculated strategy to build personal influence, only to abandon the party once it no longer served his interests and ambitions.

Loyal members who are believed to have fought to keep ALCOP visible in Liberia’s political landscape now feel betrayed, as Dulleh, who from indications seems to be power drunk with the support of a few insiders, has redirected the party's resources for personal gain.

This current situation concerning the embattled ALCOP Chairman's controversial leadership extends beyond ALCOP to the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), where his tenure has sparked fresh allegations of corruption and administrative malpractice.

Recently, during the Thursday, March 6, 2025 Session of the Liberian Senate, Sinoe County Senator Crayton O. Duncan, Chair of the Senate’s Committee on Autonomous Agencies & Commissions, raised serious concerns about financial mismanagement at the disaster agency. 

Senator Duncan accused Executive Director Anus Dulleh of falsely claiming credit for projects completed by the previous administration and fraudulently listing them as part of the agency's 2024 Fiscal Year National Budget performance report.

When questioned about the visible discrepancies, Dulleh deflected blame onto the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, accusing the Finance Ministry of submitting the contradictory budgetary reports.

However, further scrutiny revealed inconsistencies in the agency’s expenditures, with Dulleh claiming authorization to spend US$1,417,994 but reporting expenditures of only US$1,389,937.04, leaving an unexplained balance of US$58,905.38.

Beyond financial irregularities, NDMA insiders have disclosed that Ansu Dulleh has been running the agency unilaterally, sidelining the Deputy Executive Directors for Operations and Administration.

The agency’s efficiency has reportedly declined as a result, with disaster response efforts suffering due to administrative chaos and internal power struggles currently facing the agency. 

These revelations at NDMA mirror the crisis within ALCOP, painting a devastating picture of a leader whose management style is defined by deception, misappropriation, and unchecked authority.

Despite multiple attempts to establish communication, embattled Chairman and Executive Director Ansu Dulleh has neither answered nor returned the calls, further deepening concerns over his accessibility and willingness to address the mounting allegations surrounding his leadership.

The crises affecting ALCOP and NDMA under Ansu Dulleh's leadership are part of a broader failure within Liberia’s political institutions. The culture of impunity, lack of accountability, and quest for personal aggrandizement over public service has eroded public trust and hampered national growth and development. 

As Liberia stands at this critical juncture, the need for systemic reforms, ethical leadership, and robust oversight mechanisms cannot be overstated. It challenges Liberians to reflect critically on the qualities they seek in their leaders and the systems they must build to hold them accountable.

Edited: E. Geedahgar Garsuah, Sr.