‘Administrative Flaws’

-Dismissed NPA Comptroller Describes Dismissal

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

The dismissed comptroller at the National Port Authority (NPA), Franklin Sarkoh has termed as ‘administrative flaw’ his dismissal letter from the NPA management.

In a communication sent to the Board of Directors of the NPA, Sarkoh said he rejected the communication dismissing him from the entity due to its flaws.

“Having observed the administrative flaws that are contained in the letter and realizing its effect on my person for which I rejected the letter, I deemed it expedient as a matter of urgency to request the intervention of the Board of Directors,” Sarkoh said in communication addressed to the NPA’s Board.

The dismissed NPA comptroller said he believes that it was wrong on the part of the NPA management to have fired him through the office of the Deputy Managing Director for Operations of the NPA instead of the Deputy Managing Director for Administration under whom directive he works.

“Additionally, as matter of procedures and best practice, all letters and actions of such, in my mind should have the input of the Board and with the knowledge of the Human Resource Department and the Deputy Managing Director for Administration, not the Deputy Managing Director for Operations presenting said communication,” the dismissed NPA comptroller argued.

Sarkoh indicated that he is not aware of any non-compliance posture being exhibited by him toward the newly named Managing Director of the NPA, Bill Twehway, something he said is responsible for his wrongful dismissal from the entity.

It can be recalled on Monday, October 15, 2018, the NPA through its director of press and public affairs, Malcolm W. Scott, announced the dismissal of the entity’s comptroller for what the NPA sees as ‘administrative reasons’.

“The NPA has relieved Mr. J. Franklin W. Sarkoh, II as Financial Comptroller for administrative reasons and this does not amount to the closure of the Finance Department as staff of the department are currently performing their respective duties,” Scott said.

According to Scott, Sarkoh has since been asked to contact the Human Resource Department to collect his salary and benefits including – gasoline and scratch cards for the last month he served the post.

He further that Sarkoh would also be paid his one-month payment in lieu of notice in keeping with the labor laws of the Republic of Liberia and he is expected to turn over the keys of the office of the Comptroller, his assigned vehicle and all other properties belonging to the National Port Authority.

Meanwhile, this paper has reliably learned that the Board of Director of the NPA is not in the know of this dismissal, something which has led to quick emergency meeting intended to overturn said decision, but all efforts made by this medium to verify this information did not materialize.