Liberia: Boakai under pressure to dismiss the trade inspector Dorr Cooper because

Monrovia – President Joseph Boakai looks like a general inspector of the Ministry of Commerce according to the Ministry of Trade after bribery and an academic fraud scandal at the University of Liberia (UL).

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]

The renewed calls follow the announcement of the UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan about the immediate dismissal of eight employees who are involved in a far-reaching examination of academic fraud, in which the so-called “Dorr Cooper incident” was prominent.

The comprehensive measure takes place after a four -month examination of the special committee for investigating academic fraud. The committee revealed what it described as “coordinated academic fraud acts” in which employees of the Department of Public Administration (PADM), the Office of Enrollment Services (OES) and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) were involved.

“Academic fraud is the opposite of academic integrity and the enemy of academic excellence,” said Dr. Maparyan. “At my guard, the University of Liberia is restored to academic integrity and academic excellence.”

In addition to the eight layoffs, an employee was suspended by the end of 2025, while two more were released due to insufficient evidence. Although the official summary of the investigation has not disclosed any detailed findings on Cooper's specific role, the public outcry in relation to the request for transparency and accountability has increased.

In response to this, Dr. Maparyan a number of structural reforms that aim to strengthen institutional integrity and prevent future misconduct:

• Establishment of a permanent supervisory authority: The temporary investigative committee is now becoming a position Committee for examining academic fraud (CIAF).
• Start of a whistleblower platform: The UL Whistleblower platform (ULWP) Enables students, employees, alumni and others, suspected fraud to report confidentially.
• Complete overhaul of the Office of Enrollment Services (OES): The OES as an important cause for concern will experience significant structural changes.
• Stronger guidelines and educational campaigns: Revised university -wide guidelines for academic fraud are introduced together with the consciousness efforts that aim at everyone involved.

“These measures enable academic integrity to overcome and die to academic fraud,” confirmed Dr. Maparyan and signaled a zero tolerance posture.

While the rapid reaction of the UL leadership of some actors of civil society and educational reform lawyers has praised, others monitor exactly how far-reaching and sustainable the reforms will be in a system that has long been plagued by corruption and weak.

Dr. Maparyan ended her explanation with a strict warning: “People who commit academic fraud or are involved in academic misconduct at the University of Liberia will be held accountable. Unpainting will not be an option.”

The layoffs and accompanying reforms represent one of the most important anti -corruption actions in the recent history of the university.

Since the public concern about the scandal continues to grow, the pressure on President Boakai is increasing – with the dismissal of the general inspector of the trade inspector Dorr Cooper, whose alleged participation has become a lightning section for criticism.