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Articles by Varney Dukuly
Are Service Passports issued to journalists non-renewable?
Image Credit: James Goodday Flomo Claim: Service passports given to journalists or people who travel with the government are non-renewable, says James Goodday Flomo. Verdict: False. The regulations governing the administration and issuance of Liberian passports state otherwise. According to the Passport Regulations, Ordinary passports are issued for five years, while Diplomatic, Official, and Service passports are issued for two years and can be renewed.
False! No travel restriction on Ghanaians by UK government
Claim: Breaking news: The UK government has officially banned Ghanaians from entering the UK and has also warned its citizens not to travel to Ghana, says Kumba Jestina Ghartey Verdict: False. Checks by DUBAWA on the official UK Travel website indicate that Ghanaian citizens can still travel to the United Kingdom. They only require a standard visa application rule and vice versa. The claimant, on the other hand, failed to prove her accusation.
Prophet Kay’s incarceration: The law, freedom of speech and its consequences
Since the Supreme Court of Liberia’s incarceration of social media commentator Justin Oldman Yeazehn, popularly known as Prophet Key, public debate has intensified, with claims and counterclaims over whether the Court’s action amounts to the suppression of free speech or the enforcement of the rule of law.
True! Liberia second hungriest country in West Africa after Niger
Claim: A former University of Liberia student leader, A. Patrick Sowah, has alleged Liberia’s 2025 Global Hunger Index score is 30.0, making Liberia the second hungriest country after Niger. Verdict: True. Despite pushback from some Facebook users, available research and Global Hunger Index (GHI) data confirm that Liberia ranks second-hungriest in West Africa. A former University of Liberia student leader, A.
The claim of a ratio of one doctor to 5,000 is misleading
Claim: There is one doctor for every 5,000 patients, with a significant disparity in the doctor-to-patient ratio nationwide, says Simeon Freeman, political leader of the opposition Movement for Progressive Change. Verdict: Misleading! The claimant’s figure is lower than official estimates, which indicate the proper ratio is approximately one doctor per 15,000 people. This understatement minimises the scale of the country’s healthcare challenges, making the claim misleading.
Koluba’s claim about UP government’s $1bn GDP figure false
Claim: Former Assistant Finance Minister Benedict Kolubah claims Unity Party could not move Liberia’s GDP up to 1 billion dollars from 2005 to 2017. Verdict: False. Evidence shows that Liberia’s GDP exceeded $1 billion well before the end of the Unity Party’s administration in 2017.
Second quarter Inflation figure in Liberia stands at 11.1%, not 13.7% - Dubawa
Claim: Benedict Kolubah said the Central Bank of Liberia’s (CBL) second-quarter report for 2025 placed inflation at 13.7%. Verdict: False. The CBL reported inflation for the second quarter of 2025 as 11.1%. The 13.7% referenced by Benedict was the rate of less “food and transport prices.” Former Assistant Minister Benedict Kolubah stated on a live debate that Liberia’s inflation reached 13.7% as of June 2025.
Has Liberia's ship registry surpassed Panama?
Claim: “We are the largest ship registry in the world, topping Panama,” Robert Kpadeh, Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization, said. Verdict: True. Independent analysis and research findings from reputable maritime organisations such as Clarkson Research, Maritime Executive, and Tradewinds confirm that Liberia has surpassed Panama as the world’s largest ship registry.
Was Tubman of Liberia the only African President to meet the Queen of England?
Claim: Liberian President William V.S. Tubman was the only African President to meet the Queen of England—Dr. Syrulwa Somah on OK FM Verdict: False. Historical records confirm that Queen Elizabeth II met numerous African leaders during her 70-year reign, not only President Tubman of Liberia.
Did CDC administration budget exceed $600 million mark?
Claim: Sylvester Wonplue, a Unity Party youth leader, alleges that for six years, the CDC could not increase the National Budget from 600 million dollars. Verdict: False. Official budget records indicate that the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government increased the national budget to exceed $600 million in multiple fiscal years.
Liberia not only country with validity dates on NIR cards
Claim: A Facebook user, Sam Wawrinka Washington Jr., alleges that national ID cards are issued for a lifetime in most countries, except Liberia, where they have an expiration date. Verdict: False. Verified data from neighbouring countries such as Nigeria and Ghana clearly show that identity cards in those nations also have defined validity periods.
False! Fee for Liberia’s National ID card has not increased
Claim: Frank Gibson, a Liberian residing in France, claimed on Facebook that the cost of obtaining a Liberian national ID card has increased from US$10 to US$30 under the current administration. Verdict: False: The National Identification Registry (NIR), the authority responsible for issuing national ID cards, denied this claim. The official pricing structure shows that the cost of a citizen’s ID card remains at $5. Receipts and direct confirmation from cardholders support NIR pricing.
Printing Press shutdown and nepotism allegations against Mayor Siafa, false
Claim: A UP member, Queen Johnson, has alleged that Mayor Siafa shut down his private printing press after hiring all its staff at the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC). She also claims that the Mayor appointed his daughter as Revenue Director at the MCC. Verdict: FALSE! DUBAWA’s investigation found no evidence supporting these claims. The printing press is still operational, and the current Revenue Director of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), Rachel D.
FY2025 National Budget of Liberia does not support Martin Kollie’s claim for fuel and scratch card expenses
Claim: We spent US$8.79 million on fuel for generators and US$916,441 on scratch cards alone (Annexe 9, FY2025). That’s US$9.7 million in just 24 months,” activist Martin Kollie wrote on his official Facebook page. Verdict: False. A careful review of Liberia’s FY2025 National Budget shows that the figures cited by Kollie were inaccurate. Moreover, ‘Annexe 9’ does not exist in published budget documents.
Has Burkina Faso banned porn websites?
Claim: “Breaking News – Burkina Faso has officially banned all porn websites in the country. We are coming to do the same thing in Liberia,” a Liberian Facebook blogger, Yekeh Kolubah, says. Verdict: Misleading. Investigation shows that no official statement or law exists banning pornographic websites in Burkina Faso. In 2023, the country’s media regulatory body banned the broadcasting of pornographic and homosexual content on media platforms.
Has the Liberian exchange rate hit L$200 to 1 USD?
Claim: “Today, Liberia has reached a historic economic milestone. For the first time since 1822, the LD is 200 to 1 USD,” said Eugene Nagbe Verdict: False. Historical data from the Central Bank of Liberia show that the exchange rate reached and exceeded L$200 to US$1 as early as February 2020 during former President George Weah’s tenure.
Does Liberia fund 33 embassies or foreign missions?
Claim: “Liberia has 33 funded embassies and Foreign Missions plus several consulates, while Barbados has just 15.” —Martin Kollie Verdict: False. Liberia does not fund 33 embassies or foreign missions as claimed. The 2025 National Budget accounts for 25 embassies, four consulates, and one permanent mission, totalling 30 foreign missions, not 33.
Online Romance Scam! How Liberian Senator, others became victims, bait
An online romance scam has taken a notch higher with the unauthorised use of no less than the image of a Liberian senator. Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, who is happily married, has his image on a Facebook page, “Christian Dating Site Worldwide,” with a different name, soliciting for a long-term relationship leading to another marriage. The image of Snowe, who is also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament, came with a caption: “Hello, my fellow Africans.
No Evidence to show Yeakeh Sayequee voted in Nimba by-election
Claim: Naturalised LofaMan Zubah, a Facebook user, posted in The Emmanuel Savice Show (Facebook group) that a former Representative candidate in District#10, Montserrado, Yeakeh Sayequee, has voted in District #8, Nimba County. Verdict: False: The accused has denied voting, describing the claim as “nonsense!” In a conversation with the claimant, DUBAWA can confirm he has no evidence to substantiate his claim.
Did LTA shut down internet services in Nimba for the Senatorial by-election?
Claim: David S. Tokpah, a Facebook user, posted in a Facebook group (Liberian Policy Forum) that the government, through the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, has caused internet disruption in Nimba. Verdict: False! LTA Boss Patrick Honnah has denied the allegations. Also, fact-checkers in Nimba confirmed active internet services in Nimba from both GSM Companies.
Explainer: A disqualified candidate, a brewing election crisis, and Liberia’s uneasy dance with democracy
With a few days to the April 22 Nimba Senatorial By-elections, drama, controversy, and political campaigning have taken on a darker tone. Behind campaign posters and catchy jingles lurks a legal and political storm that threatens to cast a long shadow over one of Liberia’s most closely watched races. The National Elections Commission (NEC), tasked with safeguarding the country’s fragile democratic process, has taken centre stage, and its decisions are stirring fierce debate.
Liberia: Did the House of Representatives reject the ECOWAS Mediation Team?
Claim: Breaking News: House of Representatives Rejects ECOWAS Mediation Delegates, says Shine Liberia. Verdict: False! The House of Representatives has not rejected the delegation. The ECOWAS delegation met all parties involved in the ongoing impasse within the House of Representatives. Also, an independent journalist assigned to Capitol provided an account contradicting Shine Liberia’s claim.
Speaker Koon’s alleged $5m budget, false
Claim: Thefive-million-dollar budget for Regime Speaker Koon is a disservice to Liberians, says the New Dawn Newspaper (March 4, 2025, Editorial). Verdict: False. The New Dawn editorial did not provide evidence to support this claim. Research on the approved national budget indicates that Speaker Richard Koon’s budget is US$1,505,553.
No factual basis for claim UMU is introducing same-sex marriage courses
Claim: Breaking news! The same-sex marriage course is about to be taught at the United Methodist University (UMU), according to Hon. Kelvin. Verdict: False. The Communication Director at United Methodist University (UMU) dismissed the claim. Jefferson Knight, a ranking member of the United Methodist Church, described it as a smear campaign against the Church. A review of the university’s academic curriculum approved by the Commission on Higher Education found no mention of same-sex marriage courses.
False! Boakai did not steal the election
Claim: “Mr Boakai stole the election and now sits as Head of State,” Foday N. Massaquoi, Chairperson of the CDC Council of Patriots, alleged. Verdict: False: The claimant could not provide evidence supporting his allegation. Multiple independent reports have confirmed that the elections were free and fair. Incumbent President George Weah conceded defeat before the National Elections Commission (NEC) officially announced the results.
Did Liberians in U.S. remit more than National Budget by 2023?
Claim: According to embattled House Speaker Fonati Koffa, Liberians in the U.S. remitted approximately $800 million in 2023, an amount higher than the national budget. Verdict: False! Liberians ‘ remittances from the U.S. in 2023 did not exceed the national budget. The national budget signed into law by President Joseph Boakai is $880.66 million, a figure greater than the claimed $800 million.
Did Liberians in U.S. remit more than National Budget by 2023?
Claim: According to embattled House Speaker Fonati Koffa, Liberians in the U.S. remitted approximately $800 million in 2023, an amount higher than the national budget. Verdict: False! Liberians ‘ remittances from the U.S. in 2023 did not exceed the national budget. The national budget signed into law by President Joseph Boakai is $880.66 million, a figure greater than the claimed $800 million.
Misleading! Liberia did not pay $9m annually for power supply
Claim: “Every year, we give the Ivorian government $9m to supply us power,” Byron Byron writes on his official Facebook page. Verdict: This claim is misleading! Research on national budgets contradicts it. Government allocations for CLSG from 2022 to 2024 are significantly lower. Furthermore, Byron failed to provide evidence to support his claim of an annual payment of $9 million.
False to suggest Speaker’s office received Draft National Budget from Chief Clerk’s Office
Claim: According to a post by Shine Liberia, a social media blog, the legally elected Speaker’s office has finally received the Draft National Budget from the Chief Clerk’s Office. Verdict: False. The Executive has rejected this claim, asserting that the draft budget has yet to be re-submitted. The government maintains that its Nov. 18, 2024, submission to the acting Chief Clerk remains valid. Furthermore, Shine Liberia has failed to authenticate its assertion.
President Boakai did not allocate $1.8M in the 2024 national budget for celebrations - Dubawa
Claim: Martin Kollie alleges that President Boakai spent US$1.8M on celebrations when over 25,000 students from the University of Liberia and MVTC stayed out of school while lecturers were on a go-slow strike. Verdict: False. DUBAWA’s investigation into the 2024 National Budget found no evidence supporting Martin Kollie’s claim. The approved budget allocates only $200,000 for celebrations, not $1.8 million, as alleged.
Explainer: The Crisis of Public Sector Corruption in Liberia
In the economics class, lecturers say corruption often stems from institutional failure and bad governance. It is a global phenomenon generally defined as the use of public office for private gain, which includes the misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement. This definition aligns with many occurrences in Liberia’s public sector, where misappropriation and embezzlement have become sharp realities confronting the nation and its people.
False! Amos Tweh did not buy Oilers FC bus for $165,000
Claim: “Amos Tweh reportedly brags about spending 165k USD of the Liberian people’s money to purchase this bus for LPRC Oilers FC.” Verdict: False. The Managing Director of LPRC denied the accusation. The Oilers Sports Association also shared a receipt verifying the actual cost of the new bus. A social media blog named ‘Shine Liberia’ claimed that the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company’s management, led by Amos Tweh, purchased a 21-seater bus for $165,000.
Weah's claim on tenure positions misleading
Claim: “In the government I serve[d], tenure positions were respected,” Ex-President George Weah has said. Verdict: Misleading. Multiple media reports indicate that the Weah administration frequently violated tenure positions. Former Liberian President George Weah has criticised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration for allegedly disregarding laws regarding tenure positions.
Tracking Senators’ Retreat and citizens' push for accountability in Liberia
Liberian Senators, often regarded as the elders of the nation’s bicameral Legislature, are in the news again for the wrong reasons. In 2014, they were accused of passing sixty-six bogus concession agreements against the people’s interests, as the Global Witness report referenced, and for allocating $30,000 for legislative projects in previous budgets. Years after this report, the ‘Elders of the Nation’ are in another potential scandal regarding the Senate Retreat.
Government has not replaced trained doctors with “Unity Party Doctors” at JFK Hospital - Dubawa
Claim: Alvin Wesseh, a former agriculture minister during the Weah administration, said that the government has dismissed well-trained doctors and is replacing them with Unity Party doctors at JFK. Verdict: False. The claimant could not justify his allegations with facts. The HR at the John F. Kennedy Hospital and the Ministry of Health dismissed the claim.
Son of Liberia’s president has not imported ‘Zombie’ drug into Liberia
Claim: A Facebook user claims Tamba Boakai, a son of Liberian President Joseph Boakai has imported a new breed of hard drug known as “Zombie” into Liberia. Verdict: False. Checks by DUBAWA showed that there is no evidence to support the claim that Mr Boakai’s son, Tamba Boakai, has been involved in the importation of any ‘zombie’ drug.
True, Liberian men rank among top three shortest in Africa, 23rd globally
Claim: Liberian men have been ranked among the top three shortest in Africa and the twenty-three-third globally. Verdict: True. Research showed that Liberian men are among the shortest globally. A 2020 medical database run by NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, a project linked to Imperial College London, backed the claim. Full Text Diamond Online, a Liberian blog on Facebook, recently amplified a report citing that Liberian men have been ranked as the top three shortest in Africa.
No Evidence That LPRC Boss Tweh Purchased US$150K House
By Varney Dukuly Claim: Shine Liberia reported that LPRC Managing Director Amos Tweh purchased a USD 150K house shortly after his appointment. Verdict: Misleading. Shine Liberia could not prove its accusation with evidence. Tweh, however, has debunked the claim. Full Text Amos Tweh, the new Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC), has been accused of purchasing a house valued at US$150,000 just weeks after his appointment.
No evidence to show Tweh purchased $150,000 house
Claim: Shine Liberia reported that LPRC Managing Director Amos Tweh purchased a USD 150K house shortly after his appointment. Verdict: Misleading. Shine Liberia could not prove its accusation with evidence. Tweh, however, has debunked the claim. Full Text Amos Tweh, the new Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC), has been accused of purchasing a house valued at US$150,000 just weeks after his appointment. One of Liberia’s social media blogs, Shine Liberia, made this claim.
Misleading: No evidence that NPA Managing Director is linked to missing container of rice
Claim: The Liberian Influence, a Facebook page in Liberia, is accusing the Managing Director of the National Port Authority, Sekou Hussein Dukuly, of being linked to the missing 40 ft container of rice at the Authority’s premises. Verdict: No evidence to link the National Port Authority (NPA) boss to the theft of the 40-foot container of rice. Ms Benita Urey, who is in charge of the ‘Liberian Influence’ page, said she can’t provide the facts behind the claims.
Akufo-Addo never reported Boakai to ECOWAS Parliament over unannounced visits
Claim: An anonymous newspaper in Liberia, The Masses’ Voice, alleges that Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has complained to the ECOWAS Parliament about his dissatisfaction with President Joseph Boakai’s unannounced visit to his country. Saharaa’s Facebook page further published that allegation. Verdict: False. DUBAWA checks indicate The Masses Voice provided false news. While The Saharaa’s Facebook news page has remained silent, the Ghana Embassy in Monrovia has dismissed the report.
Independent Probe’s news report about fuel price hike, false
Claim: Online platform Independent Probe has alleged that the government has increased petroleum prices amidst a struggling economy. Verdict: False. Research showed that the government of Liberia did not increase petroleum prices; instead, it reduced them. Full Text A Liberian-based online news site, the Independent Probe, published a story on Saturday, Feb.
Martin Kollie’s claim Wolokolie not Certified Public Accountant, false
Claim:Activist Martin Kollie has accused Commissioner General nominee, Mr Wolokolie, of academic fraud. In a Facebook post, he said the nominee could not have been accredited by the Liberia Institute of Certified Public Accountants (LICPA). Verdict: False! Officials of LICPA have debunked Martin Kollie’s claim.
Israel-Hamas war: Did Liberia vote a diplomatic embarrassment?
Armageddon arrived early in Liberia following a decision by a Liberian diplomat to vote in support of the US and Israel’s continued attacks on Hamas. Scores, including the country’s outgoing president, are livid by the decision and have sworn to overturn it. “They voted wrongly, but we are going to fix it, and our vote would be with the votes of other countries that call for diplomacy and not war.
False! Boakai did not appoint son, daughter to Transitional Inaugural Team
Claim: “President-Elect Joseph Boakai appoints his daughter Randa Boakai and his son Tamba Boakai to the Transitional Inaugural Team. It is too soon,” says Weah’s Presidential Aide, Sekou Kalasco Damaro. Verdict: False. The Unity Party (UP) has distanced itself from the claim. UP SG Amos Tweah says the list is unofficial. Also, the list containing the names of the daughter and son of Mr Boakai did not have the UP emblem and authority signature.
Misleading! Liberia’s standard of living not better than Guinea and Sierra Leone
Claim: Liberians should be happy with the standard of living because poverty in Sierra Leone and Guinea is higher, a Liberian based in Paris has said. Verdict: Misleading! The latest data from the World Bank shows that Guinea has a lower national poverty rate than Liberia and Sierra Leone. However, Liberia’s poverty rate is also lower than Sierra Leone’s. Full Texts Frank Gibson, a Liberian based in France on Thursday, Nov.
Misleading: Grand Gedeh County’s Ex-Representative was arrested but not for double voting
Claim: “Former Representative Candidate for Electoral District #1 in Grand Gedeh County was dragged, beaten, and taken to jail for double voting in Zwedru,” writes Bigpapa News, a social media page. Verdict: Misleading. Independent verifications with police authorities in the county have denied the claim. The suspect has also told DUBAWA he was never arrested for double voting.
Casting carts before horses: The case of Liberia’s premature election victory declarations
The race for elected offices in Liberia has come to a near end, with vote counting ongoing after a tense voting process accounting for a huge turnout, according to election observers. On Tuesday, Oct 10, the general election started at 8:00 am and ended at 6:00 pm across the country, featuring 20 Presidential candidates, including the incumbent president, George Weah. Liberians also voted to elect 73 members of the House of Representatives and 15 Senators.
Mostly True: Bong County suspect arrested for electoral fraud
Claim: The New Republic Newspaper reports that a man has been arrested over suspicion of electoral fraud. The suspect possessed ballot papers to educate first-time voters. The suspect also claimed the Bong County Senator sent him on the expedition.
Mostly True: Jefferson T. Koijee shared 25kg bag of rice with MCC casual workers
Claim: The City Mayor of Monrovia, Jefferson T. Koijee, has assembled 400 MCC casual workers (mostly street sweepers) to share a 25kg bag of rice with each of them, said Martin Kollie. Verdict: Mostly True Findings Despite a denial by the Mayor’s spokesperson, Pekelleh Gbuapaye, DUBAWA independently verified the claim and spoke to some beneficiaries who admitted that the Mayor had distributed the rice to them. The distribution was done at Vai, the park between Vai town and Bushrod Island.
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