By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – over the weekend, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., with immediate effect, suspended Mr. Matthew Nyanplu from his position as Assistant Minister for Information Services at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism.
The action which the Executive Mansion characterized as “disciplinary“ against Mr. Nyanplu stemmed from what the President sees as his [Nyanplu] breach of intra-agency communication protocols, sidestepping of norms of best practice, and acts unbecoming of a government official, especially one in a capacity as a spokesman.
The release noted that Nyanplu would have served the suspension without pay and would be subjected to an investigation to determine the need for further action. “The suspension of Mr. Nyanplu arises squarely out of his brazen disregard of established channels, not the merits or demerits of the issues he highlighted.
Nyanplu’s Resignation:
But early Sunday, Matthew Nyanplu resigned his post as Assistant Minister for Information Services at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism. In a letter addressed to President Boakai, Nyanplu expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve under the current administration but voiced deep concern over the implications of his suspension. He cited the suspension as being unjust and politically motivated, asserting that it stemmed from his critical remarks on social media regarding the Foreign Minister’s association with NEKOTECH, a foreign organization.
“The Foreign Minister made you attend and preside over the launch of a program that is charging Liberians at least $236 for preparatory support,” Nyanplu stated. He emphasized that the initiative contradicted earlier government assurances that it would cover loan obligations for the students, revealing that participants would be responsible for their financial commitments instead.
Nyanplu pointed out the inherent contradictions in the program, highlighting that it falsely labeled what is essentially an Optional Practical Training (OPT) opportunity as a “work-study” initiative. He argued that the program misrepresents the nature of work-study in the U.S., which is typically funded by the U.S. government and contingent upon the completion of academic programs.
“The contradictions and misinformation in this ‘work-study’ program bring serious disgrace to our country,” Nyanplu lamented, calling for an immediate cessation of the program and urging the government to protect Liberians from what he characterized as extortion.
Despite attempts to engage with Minister of Information Jerolinmek Piah and other officials regarding the program’s misleading nature, Nyanplu reported a lack of willingness to publicly address the misinformation. He expressed disappointment in the government’s failure to correct the narrative, suggesting that the Foreign Minister may have personal interests at stake.
In his resignation letter, Nyanplu reaffirmed his commitment to public service and the well-being of Liberians. “I have a very clear conscience. I remain faithful to the country and the people,” he wrote, concluding that he would be available to serve again when the country is ready to embrace dissenting voices.
What led to Nyanplu’s suspension:
On November 15, 2024, Nyanplu took to Facebook to denounce what he described as a “national disgrace” related to the Foreign Minister’s announcement of a $25 million “work-study-loan” program aimed at 250 Liberians seeking education and work opportunities in the United States. He argued that the program misled participants into believing it was government-sponsored when, in fact, it required them to pay substantial fees for preparatory support.
The warning came after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently announced a US$25 million scholarship program aimed at funding master’s degree studies in the United States. However, critics quickly labeled the initiative as deceptive and pointed out various misleading claims made by NEKOTECH.
Nyanplu criticized the program for charging students fees for services such as the Duolingo language test and misleading claims about work-study and post-graduation employment opportunities. He clarified that most U.S. universities already recognize Liberian academic credentials and do not require language tests like Duolingo or TOEFL.
He further debunked NEKOTECH’s claims about guaranteed three-year work opportunities in the U.S. for graduates, explaining that such opportunities are limited to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) graduates and are not automatically granted.
“Please, do not pay a cent to NEKOTECH,” Nyanplu stressed, urging students to pursue education opportunities directly with U.S. institutions or seek free guidance from experienced individuals rather than falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
Nyanplu also called for the Liberian government to take immediate action against NEKOTECH and urged the Foreign Ministry to distance itself from the program, which he described as a national disgrace.
