“I am Committed to transforming challenges into opportunities”-Acting Director General-NaFAA

By: Geeplay Ezekiel Geeply| Correspondent

Bushrod Island, Monrovia-Tuesday, March 25, 2025-A Liberian Development and Project Specialist J. Cyrus Saygbe, Sr has officially taken over the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, (NaFAA) as Acting Director General with a commitment to embodying professionalism, respect, and unwavering adherence to values, thereby transforming challenges into opportunities. 

“Today, as I step into this role as Acting Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), I am committed to embodying professionalism, respect, and unwavering adherence to our values, thereby transforming challenges into opportunities. I would also like to acknowledge Madam Emma Glassco, for keeping the torch burning over the years. We will build on the successes and overcome the challenges. We now stand at a pivotal juncture”.

Starting the ground running Monday, March 24, 2025, during his inception speech the Acting Director General disclosed that the World Bank financed Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project current balance is approximately $21 million as the project will come to an end in September 2026. This he noted “demonstrates the incredible potential of the sector to drive economic growth, enhance livelihoods, and secure food security”. As such, he expressed explicit confidence in the Project Implementation Unit and expressed optimism that the project would meet its development objectives and end with a satisfactory rating at closure. 

Moreover, pointing out some key challenges his administration inherited at the Liberian Fisheries Authority, Mr. Saygbe mentioned among other things, outstanding financial arrears totaling US$3.1 million from pending vendor payments over the years, complications involving LRA income tax and NASSCORP withholdings that were deducted from staff but never remitted from as far back as 2020 to date, unlawful dismissals where the Labor Court has ruled in favor of the staffs to be paid, and overdue payments to the National Port Authority pose significant hurdles. 

Mr. Saygbe mentioned that the Liberian Fisheries Authority is further bound by critical international treaty commitments, including addressing Liberia’s yellow card status. He stated that his administration met an unverified bank balance of at least 450,000 USD that will meet critical salary obligations for staff salaries for March and April 2025. Unverified due to the fact that he is yet to receive the bank statements after the briefing by the Senior Management Team. 

Furthermore, as a means of obtaining background information on all the financial allegations coming out of the entity, Acting Director Saygbe pointed out that his administration has requested the intervention of the Internal Auditor to commence the review and verifications of these arrears to enable the administration to commence dialogues where needed and instigate the liquidation of the liabilities where possible. He also pointed out that as part of the GAC’s audit for 2024, he and his team attended a conference hosted by the Auditor General as part of the process to commence the 2024 audit expected to commence by May or June 2025.

“We have asked our internal auditor from the IAA assigned at NaFAA to commence the review and verifications of these arrears to enable us to commence dialogues where needed and commence the liquidation of these liabilities where possible. As at March 2025 payroll, we have agreed as a management team to commence the remittance of withholding tax for LRA and Social Security for NASSCORP with immediate effect while we discuss the huge outstanding arrears”. 

Meanwhile, the Acting Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority furthered that his administration is currently exploring strategic collaborations with esteemed partners such as the Government of Norway, the Embassy of Sweden, the African Development Bank, IFAD, the Government of Egypt and Angola as well as the FAO whose Regional Demersal and Pelagic Resources Survey in the Western Gulf of Guinea is providing invaluable insights for sustainable fisheries management.

Commenting on the strategy to stabilize the financial status of the entity, Mr. Saygbe said NaFAA will diligently strive to remit its contribution to the National Budget, reinforcing its commitment to the nation’s broader development goals once it is financially stabilized.

Disclosing his administration’s vision, Mr. Saygbe disclosed that “our vision centers on sustainable development and proactive private sector engagement. We plan to advance our aquaculture initiatives by outsourcing hatcheries and launching innovative breeding programs, with a particular focus on fingerling production”. 

He added that his administration also envisions significant industrial expansion through public-private partnerships aimed at developing fisheries processing and canning facilities in Liberia,  a strategy that will create new opportunities for graduates from the University of Liberia’s Fisheries Department and serve as a catalyst for broader economic growth. 

“Our comprehensive plans include the construction of a unified office complex where our workforce can collaborate as one cohesive family”.

The historic ceremony was graced by some international partners including the European Union, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Environmental Justice Foundation among others. Also present at the occasion was the co-chairman of NaFAA’s Board, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe, Sr. , the Cooperative Development Agency, the Ministry of Defense/Liberia Coast Guard, and the Industrial Fisheries Representative among others. The International Partners pledged to work with the new NaFAA Administration to help enhance fishery governance in Liberia.

Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita| Editor-In-Chief