The Ministry of Health has strongly condemned misleading media reports that falsely claimed Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto, Minister of Health, was among the officials suspended by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for failing to declare assets.
In a statement released yesterday, the Ministry categorically refuted the allegations published by FrontPage Africa (FPA) and Oracle’s Daily, stating that Dr. Kpoto had fully complied with asset declaration requirements by submitting her declaration to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) on August 5, 2024.
The Ministry further confirmed that her declaration was officially acknowledged and securely stored within the Assets Declaration & Verification Unit of the LACC.
“These allegations are entirely false, irresponsible, and deceptive,” the statement read.
“The Ministry of Health urges media entities to adhere to ethical journalism standards by fact-checking and authenticating information before publication to prevent misinformation and public confusion.”
The Ministry additionally pointed out that a thorough review of the official suspension list issued by the LACC shows that Dr. Kpoto’s name was not included among the 457 officials affected by the President’s decision.
The Ministry emphasized that the publication of her name and photograph in FPA’s and Oracle’s Daily’s reports was a serious misrepresentation that has caused undue reputational harm.
At the same time, Darius Popo Bleh, a prominent health practitioner, has also denounced the inaccurate reporting and called on FrontPage Africa and Oracle’s Daily to immediately publish a formal correction and issue a public retraction.
“Failure to address this issue promptly will raise serious concerns about the credibility of these media institutions,” Bleh stated.
“Journalistic integrity requires accuracy, fairness, and responsibility. The public deserves factual reporting, not sensationalized misinformation”, he blasted.
Meanwhile, The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, stressing that Dr. Kpoto remains fully engaged in her duties as Minister of Health and is dedicated to advancing Liberia’s healthcare system.
Moreover, As Liberia continues its fight against corruption and promotes good governance, the Ministry urges media organizations to prioritize fact-checking in journalism, accuracy over sensationalism and to correct errors swiftly when they occur.
