The House of Representatives has summoned the management of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), including Managing Director Mr. Rudolph Merab, along with company managers, to explain their failure to ensure that companies comply with their social agreements.
Plenaryโs decision was triggered by a communication from Grand Bassa County Electoral District 2 Representative Clarence Banks.
He stated that since March 2024, the FDA Managing Director had brought his complaint to the House regarding the actions of West Africa Forestry Development Inc. (WAFDI) and L& S Resource Inc., which had resulted in a halt to government revenue.
โHon. Speaker, Hon. Deputy Speaker, and fellow colleagues, plenary mandated the Agriculture Committee to handle this matter.
The two companies have operated for over five years in my district without fulfilling any of their social agreements:
1. Construction of many kilometers of farm-to-market roads
2. Establishment of three (3) primary schools
3. Establishment of two (2) clinics
4. Payment of all salary arrears
5. Installation of multiple hand pumps,โ Representative Banks stated in his communication.
During the committeeโs investigation, members confirmed that all allegations were true, and to date, the two companies have yet to meet their obligations. Additionally, employees have not been paid for more than a year and a half.
At this point, Former Speaker Koffa tasked Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah with taking charge of the report and bringing together FDA Managing Director Rudolph Merab, WAFDI General Manager Mr. Augustine B.N. Johnson, L& S Resource Inc. Black Manager Mr. Alex Nynley, and Representative J. Clarence T. Banks to resolve the matter.
A meeting was scheduled by the Chief Clerk in the Deputy Speaker’s Office for Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at 4:00 PM. The FDA Managing Director and Representative Banks were present; however, WAFDI and L&S Resource Inc. representatives failed to appear.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah presided over the July 16, 2024, meeting and mandated the FDA Managing Director to arrange a meeting within two weeks to resolve the outstanding issues. However, Mr. Rudolph Merab has yet to schedule this meeting, despite an eight-month delay.
Mr. Rudolph Merab, FDA Managing Director; Gertrude Nynley, Deputy Managing Director for Operations (Former Technical Director for Community Forestry); Mr. Augustine B.N. Johnson, WAFDI General Manager; and Mr. Alex Nynley, L& S Resource Inc. Black Manager are expected to appear before the House on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
