Agriculture Ministry staff resists double dipping; returns three months’ salary to government’s coffers

By Ben TC Brooks

River Gee – Jay Doe Welah Jr., an ex-staff of the Ministry of Education (MoE) formerly assigned in River Gee County, has returned a sum of cash meant for his three months’ salary to the coffers of the Liberian government.

Welah, Jr., who is currently a staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, serving in the position of Regional Coordinator, has disclosed that it was prudent to return the money, owing to the fact that he’s no longer an employee of the MoE and he should not be receiving remunerations from there.

In a communication from Welah, Jr., which is in the possession of Rural Reporters News Network (RRNN), he recently wrote MoE’s Comptroller, Augustine G. Goe, informing him about his (Welah’s) employment with the Agriculture Ministry since April of this year.

However, Welah, Jr. noted that he has noticed his name still being retained on the current payroll of the Ministry of Education, for which he continues to receive salary payments in his bank account from the MoE.

“As a patriotic citizen of Liberia, I kindly request that you remove my name from the Ministry of Education payroll associated with account number: 46-23-021-0028,” Welah, Jr. emphasized.

He then informed the MoE’s Comptroller that he had made the integral and patriotic decision to return to government’s coffers, monies deposited into his private account, representing salary payments for the months of April, May, and June 2025.

“It is not appropriate for me to accept these funds. I have deposited the total amount of $243.7 (Two hundred forty-three dollars and seven cents) in United States currency and $20,734.74 (Twenty thousand, seven hundred and thirty-four dollars and seventy-four cents) Liberian currency back into the government’s consolidated account,” Welah, Jr. further wrote.

RRNN has seen receipts and deposit slips from Ecobank authenticating Welah’s return to government coffers, such amount of monies, with many in River Gee hailing the former employee of the MoE, and others describing his action as a notable act of accountability and integrity.

“I prioritize integrity in my professional endeavors. Since I took on a new position, it was essential for me to ensure that my previous salary only covered the period I was actively working for MoE,” Welah told RRNN in an interview.

Welah, Jr., the current County Chairman of the ruling Unity Party, began his career with the Ministry of Education in 2019, fulfilling various roles such as a classroom teacher, Administrative Assistant to River Gee County Education Officer, School Feeding Coordinator, and lastly, as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the MoE in the county.

Several locals interviewed by RRNN are of the belief this act of sincerity and integrity on the part of Welah, Jr. could encourage other public servants to similarly embrace the principle of fairness, particularly amid increasing transparency scrutiny in government of recent.

As conversations about integrity and accountability in public sector continue, this incident highlights the significance of ethical behavior being required of those occupying government positions.

Local leaders and community members have commended Welah’s actions, underscoring the critical role of integrity in effective governance.

Welah’s act of resisting double dipping and returning to government’s coffers an amount meant for three months’ salary payment to him, is likely to ignite further debates regarding responsibilities of public employees and the necessary steps to maintain trust within government institutions.

As the story develops, many are curious whether such an example will lead to additional efforts to promote integrity and transparency in the public sector.

Meanwhile, Welah Jr., in the capacity of Regional Coordinator, is currently overseeing Region-5 of the Ministry of Agriculture, which encompasses River Gee, Maryland, and Grand Kru Counties.

When RRNN contacted the River Gee County Education Office, it was confirmed that indeed Welah, Jr. had resigned his MoE job, and that he had also returned to government’s coffers monies paid into his private account meant for salary payment to him for the months of April, May, and June of this year.

The former MoE staff and new Regional Coordinator of the Agriculture Ministry is now being recognized as a patriotic Liberian by the County Education Office, which is calling on other Liberians to emulate the good example of Welah, Jr. for the betterment of Liberia.