Imposter In Chief

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ADNews-Monrovia, Liberia:  The Ministry of Labour has described George Sahr Tengbeh as an “imposter” and not a recognized labour advocate, declaring his activities unlawful and misleading.

In a press release issued over the weekend, the Ministry accused Tengbeh of engaging in blackmail and spreading false allegations against Labour Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr., as well as the institution’s administration.

According to the statement, Tengbeh recently alleged that employees at the Ministry lack Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and that the Ministry had deliberately withheld benefits from contractor workers for several months. However, the Ministry dismissed these claims as “baseless and devoid of truth.”

Deputy Director of Communications and Public Affairs, E. Frederick Baye, strongly rebuked Tengbeh’s assertions, describing them as “innuendos intended to divert public attention from the government’s ongoing transformational achievements within the labour sector.”

Baye further alleged that Tengbeh is engaged in a calculated campaign of falsehood and blackmail in an attempt to gain “de facto recognition” as an accredited labour advocate,a status which, he noted, requires adherence to established regulations that Tengbeh has failed to meet.

The Ministry also disclosed that Tengbeh had, on previous occasions, sought an audience with Minister Kruah, during which he reportedly expressed regret for his earlier accusations and asked for forgiveness. Despite this, the Ministry said Tengbeh has continued to reemerge with new claims it considers misleading.

“Employees at the Ministry of Labour are civil servants, not casual construction workers required to wear PPE, as maliciously insinuated by Mr. Tengbeh,” Baye clarified.

Describing Tengbeh’s actions as “unfortunate,” the Ministry called on him to comply with all legal requirements, including obtaining proper certification, either as a freelance labour advocate or as head of a labour clinic, similar to other recognized practitioners in the field.

The statement cited former Labour Inspector-General Eric Kpaiyee as an example of a certified labour advocate who has fulfilled the necessary requirements to operate within the sector.

Meanwhile, the Ministry highlighted several ongoing initiatives it says have been overlooked by Tengbeh and his alleged political backers. These include increased enrollment in the Annual Vacation Job Program for students and youth, enforcement of international laws on Trafficking in Persons (TIP), and the launch of the First Quarterly Labour Inspection for Alien Work Permit verification in 2026.

Additional measures outlined by the Ministry include improvements in workplace conditions at concession companies, the introduction of pre-retirement “handshake” packages for long-serving employees, and the gradual transition of contractor workers within the Ministry to the Civil Service Agency (CSA) payroll system.

Baye also pointed to what he described as a major achievement under Minister Kruah’s leadership—the resolution of a longstanding leadership crisis within the Liberia Labour Congress (LLC), resulting in the establishment of a unified, all-inclusive interim administration pending general elections.

The Ministry has, however, warned concession companies, trade unions, and workplace institutions not to engage with or recognize Tengbeh, accusing him of seeking legitimacy through “blackmail, illegal practices, and a sustained disinformation campaign.”