Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – Joseph Boye Cooper, Deputy Director General for Administration and Finance at the Bureau of State Enterprises (BSE), has rejected accusations of financial mismanagement, nepotism, and misuse of public funds at the institution, calling them “for nothing noise.”
Cooper’s response comes after a whistleblower complaint alleging that BSE’s leadership misappropriated US$181,761 in remittances received from state-owned enterprises between November 2025 and May 2026 was forwarded to President Joseph N. Boakai and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
The complaint alleged that the bureau’s leadership committed administrative malpractice, misused government property, and engaged in financially motivated activities and that the monies were spent outside of authorised procurement procedures. However, Cooper categorically denied the allegations in an interview with our reporter on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. In reaction to the accusations, he told the media that “This is for nothing noise.”
The Deputy Director General urged investigators to closely examine the bureau’s operations and emphasized that neither he nor the institution had committed any illegality. Cooper stated, “The institution is open for investigation, and our hands are clean.”
According to him, “We are not fighting anybody here. We are asking them to do the right things through writing and oral engagement. If they are accusing bosses of wrongdoings, let them show the media evidence to back their claims.” Cooper dismissed the allegations as unfounded and suggested they are intended to tarnish the reputation of the bureau’s leadership.
Meanwhile, the whistleblowers in the entity claim that more than US$181,000 contributed by state-owned enterprises cannot be properly accounted for under the bureau’s approved spending plans. They also accused the leadership of organizing unauthorized activities and workshops while employees allegedly continue to work under difficult conditions without adequate office equipment.
Additional claims include allegations that a government-issued Toyota Hilux assigned to Cooper was being used for personal purposes and sustained damage during unauthorized trips. Should the LACC proceed with an inquiry, investigators will be expected to determine whether the allegations are, as Cooper claims, merely “for nothing noise,” or whether evidence exists to support the whistleblowers’ accusations of financial misconduct within the Bureau of State Enterprises.
