Published: April 4, 2025
GRAND GEDEH COUNTY – Amid ongoing concerns about corruption and mismanagement, the youth of Grand Gedeh County—particularly those from Konobo District—have intensified their demand for accountability by suspending the Chief Officer of their community forest governance structure.
Alex Czar Quaye, Chief Officer of the Konobo Authorized Community Forest, was suspended over allegations of financial impropriety and making unilateral decisions on the use of funds generated from forest concessions.
In a letter of suspension dated March 4, 2025, the Community Assembly and its Executive Committee cited a loss of confidence in Quaye’s leadership. They accused him of operating without transparency, failing to consult the leadership on key financial decisions, and mismanaging the community’s resources.
“Alex Czar Quaye’s administration was marked by serious mismanagement,” the letter noted. “The first payment of $27,500 from Horizon Logging Company, intended as land rental fees, was allocated without community input, leaving residents with no tangible benefits.”
The letter further disclosed that 10,355 cubic meters of logs were sold to international buyers in Dubai and Singapore, with the community due to receive $31,066 at a rate of $3 per cubic meter. However, Quaye allegedly distributed three bundles of 14-gauge zinc sheets to selected individuals and diverted the rest of the funds toward self-directed initiatives.
They also claimed that Horizon Logging Liberia Ltd., a company Quaye allegedly forced upon the community, performed poorly—failing to deliver on any agreed projects and leaving more than 30,000 cubic meters of harvested logs abandoned in the forest. The company has reportedly fled the country.
More troubling, according to the letter, was Quaye’s decision to add an employee of one of the concession companies as a signatory to the community’s bank account without consulting the Community Assembly or its Executive Committee—an act the community deemed a serious breach of trust.
In light of these allegations, the Konobo Forest Community declared Quaye unfit to continue serving in his role, pledging to prevent any further exploitation of their natural resources by a select few.
Quaye Responds
Speaking to The Liberian Investigator, Mr. Quaye acknowledged receiving both the $27,000 and $31,000 payments from Horizon Logging Company, but maintained that all transactions were properly reported to the Executive Committee.
He said part of the $27,000 was used for legal fees in a lawsuit filed against the community leadership—an action he claims had the blessing of both the Executive Committee and the Community Assembly.
Quaye disputed the notion that he had been suspended over corruption allegations. “The letter doesn’t even mention the word ‘corruption,’” he said, adding that his term as Chief Officer, as well as those of the Assembly and Committee members, officially expired in February.
He questioned the legitimacy of what he called an “outgoing committee” to take disciplinary action against another outgoing official. Still, he expressed a desire to resolve the matter amicably.
“I don’t want the public to see this as an internal conflict,” Quaye said. “Yes, some of the planned housing projects remain incomplete, but all community funds were properly documented.”
He insisted that he has nothing to hide. “The records are there to show. I am not corrupt—I have a future to protect.”
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