Tension Intensifies At CARI

Tension Intensifies At CARI

By Yassah J Wright

With the growing tension at the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CAR) near Gbarnga in Bong County, two board members are said to have taken ‘administrative positions’ while still serving on the board.

The tension reportedly started mounting at the Institute as two members of the board apportioned to themselves ‘administrative positions,’ while they are still serving on the board.

Former Margibi County Senator Oscar Cooper and former CARI Director General, Dr. Walter Wiles, have appointed themselves as finance officer and deputy director general for research respectively.

Despite being the same board members, the two men allegedly announced vacancies for the positions.

“The two men have already setup their offices at the institute, thereby brewing the tension,” a report claimed.

In line with the act establishing CARI, the positions are to be advertised by the board, and the names of those to be recruited be submitted to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for appointment.

Staffs have started questioning the latest decision of the board members to force themselves in administration, while still serving on the board.

They believe the action of the two men is intended to undermine the current director general of the institute, Dr. Arthur Bob Karnuah, who is being widely praised for uplifting the institution since the board recruited him, and subsequent appointment by the President.

Some staffs have vowed to protest against the board members for “intentionally violating the law to satisfy their personal aims.”

Former CARI Director General, Dr. Walter Wiles, who has appointed himself the deputy director-general for research, was indicted by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) for “massive corruption” during his time as director general.

Dr. Wiles was invited by the Legislature joint committee on public account to answer to corruption charges, but refused to appear.

 Others, the GAC report named in the report have although appeared before the Committee to clear their names.

Within the period of the legislative inquiry, Dr. Wiles quickly left the country, but some staffs have vowed to resist the board members decision, sayng: “Wiles’ administration was an absolute disaster, and can no longer sit and see his return to the institute.”

“How can you be on the board of an institution, and take up administrative position? This is a complete violation of our laws,” some of them told The Inprofile newspaper.

They maintained that Oscar Cooper, and Mr. Walter Wiles, want to be players and referees at the same time.

Some of the staff members want Pres. Boakai to with immediate effect take former Senator Oscar Cooper and Dr. Walter Wiles from the Board for “greed and intention to steal from the institution.”