Liberia: Rift at Ministry of Public Works Escalates as Minister, Deputy Reportedly Clash in Fistfight - FrontPageAfrica

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Monrovia – Tensions at the Ministry of Public Works have escalated, with Minister Roland Giddings and Deputy Minister of Technical Services Prince Tambah reportedly engaging in a physical altercation.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com

According to sources, the two senior officials were involved in a heated argument during a meeting on Thursday, which escalated into a fistfight, leaving both senior and junior staff in disbelief.

But Ben Myers, the Ministry’s Communications Director denied the claim, stating while the two officials may have dissenting views, they did not engage in fistfight.

“There was honestly never an argument, let alone a fight,”
Myers said. “The two may at a certain interval diverge in their opinions, but are too mature and professional to condescend this low. What you have been hearing can simply measure up to a propaganda stunt intended to undermine the Ministry in its collective.”

This incident is the latest development in a growing conflict between the two, which insiders say has been disrupting operations at the ministry. The friction reached a peak last week when Minister Giddings issued a formal warning to Tambah, accusing him of gross insubordination.

In the letter, seen by FrontPageAfrica, Giddings criticized Tambah’s “unproductive conduct” in executing his duties. “This communication serves as an official warning for your unproductive conduct in relation to the objectives of the Government and particularly the Ministry of Public Works,” Giddings wrote. “Your actions have stagnated the Ministry’s goals and undermined my authority as Minister.”

The minister highlighted key issues, including Tambah’s refusal to sign and his seizure of vouchers meant for the timely disbursement of funds to engineers verifying work under the 100-day corridor project.

Meanwhile, FPA has gathered that President Joseph Boakai, currently out of the country, has expressed his disappointment over the lingering internal wrangling at the Ministry of Public Works and have instructed the two officials to settle their differences or risk serious administrative action.