-Joekai Announces Removal of Over 1,200 Ghost Workers, New Regional Headquarters, and Expanded Services for Western Liberia
TUBMANBURG, Bomi County — The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has taken another significant step in Liberia’s decentralization journey with the official dedication of its Western Regional Office in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, bringing critical government personnel and payroll services closer to thousands of public servants across Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu counties.
The refurbished facility was officially dedicated by Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan during a ceremony attended by county superintendents, local government officials, education authorities, civil servants, and development stakeholders from across the western region.
The event highlighted the Boakai administration’s ongoing efforts to decentralize government services and strengthen public sector efficiency under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
Bringing Government Closer to the People
Speaking at the ceremony, CSA Director-General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr. described the opening of the regional office as a practical demonstration of government’s commitment to taking services directly to citizens.
According to him, the office will significantly reduce the burden on civil servants who previously had to travel long distances to Monrovia to resolve payroll, employment, retirement, and personnel-related issues.
“We are going to start this place professionally. We will make sure that the same services provided at headquarters in Monrovia are replicated here,” Dr. Joekai said. “People from this region should not have to travel to Monrovia for services that can be delivered right here in Tubmanburg.”
He disclosed that the renovated facility will eventually host computerized testing centers, payroll services, human resource management support, and other civil service operations aimed at improving access and efficiency.
From Ruins to Regional Hub
Dr. Joekai recalled that when he first visited the Tubmanburg facility, it had fallen into severe disrepair.
“The first time I came here, I almost refused to enter. It was in ruins. Nothing was happening here,” he said, noting that parts of the compound had become overgrown and largely abandoned.
The building was rehabilitated within 45 days by the Liberian-owned Excellence Group of Companies following a competitive procurement process. The project included major structural repairs, installation of air-conditioning systems, refurbishment of offices and bathrooms, and improvements to the surrounding compound.
Additional furniture, office equipment, and operational fixtures are expected to be installed in the coming weeks before full-scale operations commence.
Major Payroll Cleanup Uncovered 1,381 Ghost Workers
Beyond the opening of the regional office, Dr. Joekai used the occasion to reveal the results of one of the most extensive payroll verification exercises undertaken by the government in recent years.
Responding to concerns raised by county officials about payroll irregularities, he disclosed that a recent verification exercise within the Ministry of Local Government identified 1,381 ghost workers and irregular payroll entries.
According to him, more than 1,200 individuals have already been removed from the government payroll, while additional investigations continue.
“We identified 1,381 ghost names on the payroll and we have blocked more than 1,200 of them,” Joekai announced.
The CSA Director-General further revealed that 305 employees have been suspended without pay for one month due to attendance-related violations, while 92 others are facing dismissal proceedings following investigations into absenteeism and payroll irregularities.
He also disclosed plans to reclassify or redeploy hundreds of employees occupying positions for which they do not possess the required qualifications, while offering opportunities for professional development and capacity building.
New Regional Headquarters Planned
Dr. Joekai announced that decentralization efforts are expanding beyond Tubmanburg.
He revealed that funding has already been secured for the construction of Liberia’s first regional CSA headquarters in Gbarnga, Bong County. Unlike traditional regional offices, the facility will include a conference center designed to generate revenue to help sustain operations and reduce dependence on government appropriations.
Groundbreaking for the project is expected to begin shortly.
He also disclosed that the CSA has submitted plans for another regional office in southeastern Liberia to serve residents of Grand Gedeh, Maryland, River Gee, Grand Kru, and Sinoe counties. Land has already been secured for the proposed facility pending final budgetary approval.
County Officials Welcome Decentralization
Local government officials from the three western counties welcomed the initiative, describing it as a practical step toward improving government service delivery.
Bomi County Superintendent Miatta C. Dorley praised the relocation of services closer to citizens, saying county authorities will no longer need to travel frequently to Monrovia to address payroll concerns and employment matters.
Grand Cape Mount Superintendent Foday Kiazolu and Gbarpolu County Superintendent Samuel K. Zinnah also welcomed the development while calling for greater transparency in payroll administration, increased county benefits from natural resource extraction, and faster placement of qualified public servants onto government payroll.
Representatives from the education sector similarly used the occasion to raise concerns about volunteer teachers, payroll delays, retiree replacement, and administrative bottlenecks affecting schools across the region.
Supporting President Boakai’s Decentralization Vision
The opening of the Western Regional Office forms part of a broader national effort by the Boakai administration to decentralize government institutions and improve service delivery outside Monrovia.
For civil servants across Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu counties, the new facility is expected to provide quicker access to payroll management, personnel services, recruitment processes, credential verification, and professional support without the cost and inconvenience of traveling to the capital.
Officials say the office represents not only a renovated building but a renewed commitment to making government more accessible, responsive, and accountable to citizens throughout Liberia.
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