-E-Mansion Warns of Surge in Impersonation Scams
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA – The Office of the President has been forced to issue a formal denial that its officials trade jobs for cash. A new public service announcement warns citizens of a surge in impersonation scams, but the subtext of the message speaks to a more troubling dilemma for the Boakai administration: is the threat solely from external fraudsters, or does it hint at the existence of “bad apples” within the government’s own ranks?
The announcement, signed by Presidential Press Secretary Atty. Kula Bonah Nyei Fofana, states the Executive Mansion has “observed with serious concern” a growing number of individuals falsely claiming to represent senior officials to solicit money for promised employment.
The PSA makes three unequivocal declarations:
1. No official will ever solicit money for employment or favors.
2. All hiring is done through official channels, not private payments.
3. Impersonators will be prosecuted.
While aimed at protecting the public, the need for such a blunt and specific denial is analytically telling. Public warnings about common scams are not unusual. However, a government explicitly stating that its own highest offices are not a marketplace for bribes suggests that the perception of internal corruption is potent enough to require a high-level rebuttal.
“This isn’t just a warning about outsiders; it’s a defensive communication strategy,” observed a local political analyst who requested anonymity to speak freely. “It addresses a widespread belief that has likely persisted for years—that access and jobs in government can be bought. The administration is trying to publicly sever that link, precisely because many people believe it exists.”
The “Bad Apple” Theory: Public Skepticism and the Insider Threat**
The analytical angle forces a question the announcement itself avoids: could some of these “impersonators” actually be real, low-level insiders operating unofficially?
The line between an external impersonator and a rogue official exploiting their position is notoriously thin. A staffer might make a private phone call, imply connection to power, and solicit a bribe for a job that will never materialize. If caught, they can be dismissed as a “bad apple,” protecting the institution at the expense of accountability.
The PSA’s instruction to report scams to the Executive Protection Service (EPS)—the very body guarding the Mansion—is a key detail. It suggests the administration is either confident the fraud is entirely external, or it is creating a formal channel to investigate and root out potential internal misconduct away from the less-controlled Liberian National Police (LNP).
The statement’s promise to prosecute offenders “in accordance with the law” will be its ultimate test. If future arrests only ever target external impersonators, public skepticism about internal corruption will likely grow. However, if an investigation leads to the arrest of a genuine official or a close affiliate, it would lend significant credibility to the Mansion’s commitment to integrity.
