The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) commander in Grand Kru County, has been accused of ‘intimidation and harassment of peaceful miners.’
Ministry of Mines and Energy Regional Coordinator, Washington Weah, accused Michael Jipply of ‘misconduct, characterized by intimidation and harassment of miners and other businesspeople in the county.’
Weah also spoke of an ongoing conflict between law enforcers and the mining community.
Reports said that the allegations also involved several unidentified security agencies in the county.
Weah, who spoke reporters in Barclayville, publicly accused the LDEA Commander of “employing divisive tactics against miners, claiming that Jipply has used threats and intimidation to disrupt lawful mining activities.”
The allegations have raised concerns about the conduct of security personnel, and their interaction with locals that are engaged in small-scale mining.
Meanwhile, in light of these accusations, it has been reported that the LDEA has recalled Jipply to Monrovia to undergo an investigation.
The investigation is to establish the facts surrounding his alleged misconduct and intimidation of miners, and to also determine the appropriate actions moving forward.
According to reports, the controversy centers on a specific incident where Commander Jipply allegedly received 37.3 grams of unprocessed gold that had been confiscated from a woman (not named) in the county.
Washington Weah claimed that instead of forwarding the gold to the appropriate agency, Jipply withheld it, prompting questions about his conduct and adherence to legal protocols.
Weah believed that the actions of Jipply, and some other unidentified personnel have created an “atmosphere of fear and intimidation among local miners.”
Jipply has meanwhile dismissed the allegations terming them “as baseless and funny.”
He described claims made by Weah as “unfounded” denying engaging in any wrongdoings.
“I am not even in the county. How can someone say that I harassing miners? My man, don’t listen to that thing yeah, Jipply harshly replied from Monrovia via a cellphone call.
He added: “I don’t want to give credence to this kind of unnecessary, and baseless accusation my man, Jipply declared, noting: “I just left the county yesterday, in fact, I am in Monrovia now for an emergency meeting, and in fact, who is the region coordinator that made the allegations against me?” Jipply questioned.