-Is Mary Broh Guilty?
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia: To many Liberians, Mary Broh’s name has long been synonymous with principles, and results. Because of this, she has been venerated by many and entrusted with crucial positions in different governments (regimes), including as Monrovia City mayor, Passport Director, during the Sirleaf administratio, Director General of the General Services Agency (GSA) under President George Weah, and currently head of the anti-power theft taskforce of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LNP).
However, many were stunned after Broh was arrested early Thursday, June 26, 2025, taken to the Criminal Court C at the Temple of Justice, and later transferred to the Monrovia Central Prison where she was incarcerated among other ex officials for several hours on allegations of corruption. Broh has since claimed innocence of the allegation but the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, says its action follows a detailed investigation into what it considers as the illegal handling and diversion of 29,412 bags of rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The result-oriented Mary Broh:
She first served the Liberian government in March 2006 as the Special Projects Coordinator for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s executive staff. In 2007, she was promoted to direct the Passport Bureau in a successful attempt to curtail and eliminate corruption and bribery within the division. In 2008, Broh became the Deputy Director of the National Port Authority. In February 2009, she was selected to serve as Acting Mayor of Monrovia in place of the previous mayor, Ophelia Hoff Saytumah, in the President’s effort to legitimize the Monrovia City Corporation’s (MCC) administrative and financial management.
Because of her steadfastness in keeping Monrovia clean during her time as Major, Liberian businesses still observe the “First Saturday Opening Hour”, an unofficial regulation introduced during her term to ensure that the streets are clean before businesses open at 9:00AM every first Saturday of the month. When power theft became alarming, Broh was called up and her presence in the role saw valid changes including identifying those involved with power theft, ensuring that they are prosecuted, and making metering and connection easier for clients.
Many believe that it was based on her previous record and authority as the head of the GSA at the time that she was included in the process of managing the donation by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in 2023. But now, the corruption freed Mary Broh the public knew is being considered as a major player in a huge corruption scandal.
Broh Indicted With Others:
On June 26, 2025 – Liberia’s Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) and the Ministry of Justice disclosed that it had indicted Madam Mary Broh and 14 former and current government officials for allegedly stealing 25,054 bags of rice donated by Saudi Arabia for disaster relief. AREPT notes: “The Government of Liberia, through the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, has secured a major indictment against several former and current government officials and employees. This action follows a detailed investigation into the illegal handling and diversion of 29,412 bags of rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in April 2023. The rice was intended to support disaster victims and vulnerable communities across Liberia.”
The rice, worth $425,918, was meant for vulnerable communities in April 2023 but was illegally diverted through unauthorized meetings and falsified distributions. The 14 other key suspects include ex-Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Varney A. Sirleaf – Former Minister of Internal Affairs, Thelma Sawyer – Former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs/Administration, Henry O. Williams – Former Executive Director, National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), and Augustine Tamba – Deputy Director for Operations, NDMA.
Others are: Augustine M. Kollie – Director for Disaster Victims, NDMA, Edward S. Konneh – Employee, NDMA, Archievego M. Doe – Communications Director, NDMA, Edris Bility – Former Deputy Director for Operations, GSA, Mamie Davies – Assistant Director, GSA, Momolu Johnson – Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs/Administration, Rosetta L. Gbassay Bowah – Logistics Officer, NDMA, and Wayfa Ciapha – Purported CEO, Group of 77 and Evelyn Gbee – Warehouse Manager, GSA. Charges include Theft of Property, Economic Sabotage, Misapplication of Entrusted Property, Abuse of Office, and Criminal Conspiracy.
Meanwhile, the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) says some of the suspects have admitted involvement. “Our investigation revealed that 25,054 bags of rice, valued at approximately USD $425,918, were unlawfully diverted by the accused. Instead of reaching the intended disaster victims, the rice was stolen through secret and unauthorized meetings, usurpation of NDMA’s statutory authority and removal and distribution of rice without documentation or legal process. Some suspects have admitted to their roles, confirming a coordinated internal conspiracy and severe abuse of public trust,” AREPT discoses.
Madam Mary Broh, along with former Foreign Minister Maxwell Kemayah, and Thelma Duncan Sawyer, were released from Monrovia Central Prison on Thursday after securing human sureties. The charges against them are classified as bailable offenses.
Under Liberian law, a surety acts as a guarantor, ensuring that the accused adheres to bail conditions and appears in court for trial. If the defendants fail to comply, their sureties could face financial penalties or forfeiture of pledged assets.
The release drew notable political figures to the courthouse in a show of solidarity. Among those present were Eugene Nagbe, former Minister of Information and Maritime Boss; Deputy Foreign Minister Ibrahim Nyei and Dew Mason, a well-known political commentator.
Will Broh Fight Back?
Before her arrest, Broh had vowed to sue President Boakai’s Assets Recovery Taskforce, accusing it of defamation and political witch hunts. In April of this year, she claimed full cooperation with investigators, providing documents to prove her innocence.
“It is so laughable, it is so sad that you have an appointed agency by the president of the Republic of Liberia, witch hunting. This is the last person they will find corrupt. You can take it to the bank and at the end of the day I will sue somebody,” she said. Broh suggested that the task force was overstepping its mandate, targeting individuals without proper evidence. “You need to see the letter they have been sending me, and I warned them, They don’t know what they are doing, and if they are not careful, people will sue them,” she added.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, in early 2024, issued an Executive Order, purposely to identify and recover corruptly acquired looted public resources by Liberian leaders, especially during the presidency of George Weah. The enforcement of Executive Order #126 was temporarily interrupted by a Supreme Court stay order.
The case arose from a petition by Madam Finda Bundoo, former President Weah’s Chief of Protocol, challenging the constitutionality of the Executive Order. Bundoo is also the owner of the controversial Gracious Ride Incorporated, (petitioner), a transport services provider—whose fleet of vehicles the task force tried to seize—prompting the legal tussle that halted the activities of the taskforce.
However, the Supreme Court on Tuesday, February 18, handed the government of President Joseph Boakai a major victory, ruling unanimously that his Executive Order #126 creating the office of the Assets Recovery does not violate any constitutional provision.
