The administration of the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), has taken issue with recent publication of the Verity Online News.
In the publication, Verity claimed it has a leaked audio linking CARI Director, Dr. Arthur Bob Karnuah, threatening to dismiss everyone, and subsequently replace them with people from Nimba County.
The Administration described the publication as not only naïve, and illogical, but one intended to decimate the good image of Dr. Karnuah.
Karnuah is reportedly exerting every effort to uplift CARI that was once engulfed by bad leadership, dormancy and weak work ethics.
CARI has meanwhile, challenged the news outlet, and all media entities in possession of any audio of such nature to publish it for clarity and public scrutiny.
In a press statement, CARI says there has been absolutely no time where Dr. Karnuah has threatened staff members with dismissal for replacement with people from his county.
The release alleged that the news entity (Verity) has made absolutely no contact with Dr. Karnuah or the CARI administration for clarity and their side of the story, but continues to make publications that undermine the reputation of the Institution and Administrators.
CARI described such unethical act as a complete ‘yellow journalism.’
CARI added that Verity Online News is on record for publishing “lies” about three weeks ago that there was a US$100,000 controversy at the institute without investigating what was unfolding in relations to the US$100,000 promised by government to ease the salary disparity at the institute.
The CARI statement said Dr. Karnuah remains extremely focused, and determined to keep CARI moving in a direction that would put the Institution on par with other agriculture research institutions in the sub-region. It added that distractions will never be allowed to slow down or hinder the progress being made under the ARREST agenda.
CARI administration has therefore, urged the Liberian media to publish factual information about the institution as its role is to serve the public.