Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) is experiencing a worsening leadership crisis due to the expulsion of its Executive Director, Cllr. Urias Teh-Pour and Baw Wah Brownell, the suspended Director for Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, challenged the legitimacy of previous Acting Chairperson Mohammed E. Fahnbulleh’s decision to fire them.
The conflict arose after the Commission said on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, that both officials had been fired for allegedly continuing to represent the INCHR during their suspension. The Commission also revealed that the two officials had been referred to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) due to allegations of administrative misconduct and financial impropriety, along with the fact that a separate complaint had been filed with the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia National Police to look into claims of impersonation.
Despite both officials being suspended, the Commission claims that Attorney Teh-Pour selected Brownell to represent the INCHR after receiving formal communication from the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions. The Board claimed that those actions undermined the authority and integrity of the organization by breaking the National Code of Conduct, the Code of Ethics, and the Commission’s Staff Handbook.
However, Teh-Pour and Brownell vehemently denied the accusations during a news conference in Monrovia on Thursday, August 6, 2026, characterizing them as untrue, politically driven, and meant to harm their reputations. Executive Director Pour insisted after reading the joint statement that they have never been proven guilty of corruption or financial malfeasance by an audit, investigation, or official complaint.
Additionally, he argued that all financial transactions at the Commission are subject to strict internal controls, including supervision by the General Auditing Commission, independent external auditors, and the Internal Audit Agency, none of which have ever reported any financial irregularities involving them. Pour also challenged the validity of the dismissals, claiming that Fahnbulleh had the legal jurisdiction to suspend or fire staff members or make decisions on behalf of the Commission as his term as Commissioner ended on July 31, 2026.
The Executive Director argued, citing the INCHR Act, that the Board essentially ceased to exist when the commissioners’ mandates expired and could only be recreated by appointing a new panel in accordance with the legislation. Along with accusing Fahnbulleh of waging a personal campaign against them, the suspended officials said that the actions were the result of long-standing internal conflicts.
He added that civil society organizations had already looked into Fahnbulleh’s alleged sexual harassment and abuse of office. In response to inquiries from reporters, Teh-Pour insisted that his duties as Executive Director required frequent connection with regional and global human rights organizations, denying that he had impersonated Commission officials or engaged in illegal interactions with foreign partners.
Additionally, he questioned the disciplinary procedure, claiming that the Commission violated due process standards by acting without first conducting a proper investigation. Teh-Pour and Brownell declared they will challenge their dismissal in court, arguing that the accusations against them are unfounded, notwithstanding the Commission’s decision to forward the case to the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia National Police.
With both sides accusing one another of misconduct, abuse of power, and violations of the INCHR Act, the ongoing dispute has revealed deep divisions within Liberia’s national human rights institution and raised fresh questions about the Commission’s leadership, governance, and institutional stability.
