MONROVIA, Liberia – The Liberia Anti‑Corruption Commission (LACC) has formally exonerated Emma Metieh Glassco, the former Director-General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), after concluding a months-long investigation into allegations of financial impropriety involving World Bank–funded project resources.
In a clearance letter dated December 23, 2025, the anti-corruption body informed Glassco that its probe found no evidence of criminal intent or liability on her part, effectively ending the matter from a legal perspective. The letter was approved by LACC Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe and signed by program manager Baba M. Borkai.
The inquiry centered on allegations that donor funds, including more than US$800,000 provided by the World Bank under the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project, had been misapplied in the construction of NaFAA’s headquarters on Bushrod Island. Following a detailed review of documentation and procedures, however, LACC investigators concluded that the threshold for criminal charges was not met.
Glassco consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the investigation, maintaining that all expenditures complied with World Bank procurement safeguards and “no-objection” procedures and were processed through the Ministry of Finance’s Project Financial Management Unit, as required under donor protocols.
Background to the Probe
Glassco’s troubles began in February 2025, when President Joseph Nyuma Boakai suspended her from office following concerns raised by the NaFAA Board of Directors about her administrative oversight of project funds. At the time, government officials described the suspension as a precautionary measure in the interest of transparency, although Glassco contended that she was not afforded due process as mandated by the NaFAA Act and the national Constitution.
Dissatisfied with the progress of the investigation, she also filed a complaint before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, challenging her suspension as wrongful and in violation of constitutional protections. The regional court acknowledged her filing and granted the Liberian government time to respond.
Glassco subsequently resigned in November 2025 for personal reasons. Her resignation was accepted by President Boakai, who thanked her for her service to Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Sector Impact and Legacy
During her tenure, Glassco was widely regarded as a leading technocrat who helped transform Liberia’s fisheries governance. Under her leadership, NaFAA enhanced compliance with European Union regulations on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and mobilized substantial international financing. The sector also saw the introduction of livelihood support programs for fishing communities and the development of data-driven management systems.
Observers note that the LACC’s clearance aligns with earlier oversight outcomes from the General Auditing Commission and strict World Bank–mandated financial controls, which did not identify any adverse findings relating to the project under scrutiny.
Although the Commission’s determination legally exonerates Glassco, the episode underscores the complex interplay between public sector governance, donor accountability, and political transitions in Liberia. Analysts say that while the formal investigation has concluded without charges, some of the public and political debate surrounding the case may persist.
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