-Former NOCAL CEO Calls Headquarters Controversy Politically Motivated
MONROVIA – Cllr. Saifuah-Mai Gray, the former President and CEO of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in the construction of the company’s new headquarters, framing recent allegations from the current administration as a “politically-motivated attempt to discredit a transparent and transformative project.”
Gray’s defense comes in response to a FrontPageAfrica report that raised questions about the project. In a follow-up interview with Women Voices, she asserted that all financial transactions during her tenure were executed by the book. “The checks were paid strictly in keeping with the timeline within the contract signed. Every transaction was accounted for, and value was received,” Gray stated.
To counter the insinuations of a “shady deal,” she presented a pointed rebuttal: “If there was any issue with the contractor, why did the new leadership continue to pay him?” She revealed that since the Unity Party administration took office, it has paid over US$1.9 million to the same contractor. “That alone confirms that the project was legitimate and properly executed,” she argued.
A “Campaign of Distraction” Amid Public Praise
Gray suggested the timing of the allegations is not coincidental. She claimed the controversy emerged only after the Liberian public began commending her for delivering the modern headquarters. “Let’s be honest — the only reason this is being raised now is because people have publicly credited me for the building,” Gray said. “Instead of embracing progress, some are attempting to politicize success.”
The former CEO directly challenged the current NOCAL leadership to investigate the contractor if doubts persist, especially after they dismissed the original project consultant. “Audit the contractor since you fired the building consultant,” she stated. “But stop playing politics in a situation where Liberia has already won — we now have a national oil company building that belongs to the people.”
Gray emphasized that the building was a strategic investment designed to end decades of costly rentals and establish a permanent home for NOCAL, calling it “one of the most value-driven capital investments in NOCAL’s history.”
Alleging Gender Bias in the Backlash
As one of the few women to lead a major entity in Liberia’s extractive sector, Gray contended that the controversy highlights the double standards female leaders often face. “When a woman achieves something significant, the conversation quickly shifts from her achievement to unfounded suspicion,” she observed. “But the facts remain: the building stands, the money was well-spent, and Liberia benefits.”
She concluded by urging a focus on national development over what she termed “manufactured disputes,” asserting that leadership should be measured by impact, not politics. “Let’s celebrate progress,” Cllr. Gray said. “NOCAL finally has a home — that’s a victory for Liberia, not a scandal.”
The ball now appears to be in the court of the current administration, which must decide whether to launch a formal audit or let the matter rest, as the tangible symbol of this dispute—the NOCAL headquarters itself—stands prominently in Monrovia.
