SUAKOKO — The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has suspended seven protesting Phebe Hospital workers without pay, a decision the Health Ministry says cannot be enforced, intensifying a standoff that is already disrupting care at one of central Liberia's most critical referral hospitals.
The Ministry of Information announced Tuesday that the CSA had imposed a one-month suspension on representatives of the aggrieved workers' leadership, citing disturbances on Feb. 23 and 24 that allegedly disrupted hospital operations and blocked staff from reporting to duty.
The decision deepens a weeks-long crisis rooted in allegations of administrative malpractice, deteriorating sanitation, financial opacity and policies that workers say endanger patients.
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Suspensions Amid Escalation
Deputy Information Minister Daniel O. Sando, speaking at the Ministry of Information's regular press briefing, said CSA Director General Josiah Joekai ordered the immediate suspension pending investigation.
Those sanctioned are Moses D.N. Davis, ward clerk and president of the Phebe Workers Association; Nicola S. Peter, plumber; Peter Yallah, mortician; J. Stephen B.K. Wannah, laundryman; Doris Bee, nurse; and drivers Jefferson Sumo and James Sumo.
According to the CSA, the action followed what it described as a "constructive and productive" meeting with aggrieved staff, hospital authorities and Bong County officials. The Agency said both sides initially agreed to engage constructively after Joekai clarified concerns raised against hospital leadership.
However, the CSA alleged that some employees reignited protest activities early Tuesday, disrupting services and preventing staff en route to work from entering the facility.
The Agency further accused one of the suspended workers, Peter Yallah, of escorting journalists through hospital wards and livestreaming sensitive scenes on social media, exposing patients and causing panic. The CSA said such conduct violated Chapter 4, Section 2.2 of its Standing Orders governing civil servants.
An investigation is underway to determine whether additional administrative measures will follow.
Health Minister Contradicts CSA
In a parallel development, Health Minister Dr. Louise Kpoto convened a separate meeting with the aggrieved workers and publicly acknowledged the severity of conditions at the hospital, describing sanitation standards as "appalling."
She appealed for staff to return to work immediately, warning that continued absence could have fatal consequences.
"If health workers stay away, patients could go to the grave," she said.
But in a statement that appeared to contradict the CSA's decision, Kpoto said suspending or dismissing health workers for protesting issues tied to patient safety and working conditions was "not possible."
A Hospital at the Center of Regional Care
Phebe Hospital is a major referral institution serving thousands across Bong County and neighboring Lofa, Nimba, and parts of Grand Bassa. The facility provides emergency services, maternal care, surgical interventions, pediatric treatment and chronic disease management.
Any prolonged disruption risks creating a vacuum in specialized care across central Liberia.
Although protest leaders initially pledged to continue treating admitted patients, a visit to the facility on Tuesday found several health workers absent and patients unattended, signaling that negotiations may have collapsed.
Family members expressed alarm.
"If the hospital shuts down, where will we go?" asked Gormah Sumo, whose relative is admitted in the maternity ward. "There is no other facility nearby that can handle emergencies."
Roots of the Grievances
The confrontation traces back to a Jan. 13, 2026, resolution submitted by hospital staff demanding the removal or transfer of three senior administrators: Medical Director Dr. Minnie S. Risk, Acting Administrator Jonathan L. Pewu, and Acting Human Resource Officer Peter B. Gbelawoe.
Workers accuse the administrators of:
- Poor management and fostering a hostile working environment
- Selective and unfair distribution of employee benefits
- Collapse of critical support services
- Financial mismanagement and lack of transparency
The resolution paints a stark picture of systemic breakdown, including allegations that patients are required to pay before receiving emergency care or oxygen -- a policy staff argue creates life-threatening delays.
Employees are also demanding an independent probe into alleged financial irregularities, including funds reportedly collected for an air-conditioning unit that was never installed and compensation staff say was withheld following the Totota gas tanker fire incident.
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"These issues are about transparency, accountability and the proper use of resources meant to benefit both patients and staff," the resolution states.
Ultimatum and Government Intervention
Earlier this week, aggrieved employees temporarily suspended plans to shut down the hospital but issued a one-day ultimatum to the hospital board and national government to act on their demands.
"We have reconsidered our decision to shut down the hospital tomorrow, but we are giving the hospital board and the national government one day to respond," Davis told The Liberian Investigator before his suspension. "If calm must be restored, those three individuals must be removed."
Bong County Superintendent Hawa Norris, who serves on the hospital board, visited the facility Sunday and assured staff that a Ministry of Health delegation would review their concerns.
In a Feb. 22 press release, the Ministry of Health expressed "deep concern" and pledged that any action taken would prioritize patient safety, staff welfare and continuity of essential services.
