Boakai Fires NPHIL Director Dr. Chris Nyan
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has dismissed Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan from his post as Director-General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) effective Wednesday, October 15, 2025. The decision was communicated through an official release from the Executive Mansion, highlighting administrative concerns as the primary reason for Dr. Nyan’s removal. Alongside Dr. Nyan, his deputy, Dr. Adams K. Lincoln, was also relieved of duties, with Dr. Sia Watta Camanor appointed to serve as Interim Director General while the government searches for a permanent replacement.
Dr. Nyan’s dismissal has sparked significant debate in Liberia’s health sector and civil society. According to reports from Smart News Liberia and Liberian Investigator, the action followed an 11-count resolution by the NPHIL Board, which cited alleged lack of coordination with the Ministry of Health, procedural breaches, and inefficiency. Dr. Nyan vigorously contested the charges, describing them as broad, unsubstantiated, and politically motivated in a detailed response to the President and the Board. He argued that the allegations failed to meet the legal threshold for removal under the NPHIL Act of 2016, and no evidence of corruption or financial impropriety was presented.
Reactions among Liberia’s public health and political communities have been mixed. Supporters of Dr. Nyan credit him for technical reforms and international recognition, notably NPHIL’s recent designation as a Regional Center of Excellence by Africa CDC. Critics, however, claim that his leadership style alienated key stakeholders and stoked internal conflicts between the NPHIL, the Ministry of Health, and the institute’s Board of Directors. The appointment of Dr. Sia Watta Camanor as interim head has also drawn criticism from those who view it as perpetuating political patronage and raising questions about governance and integrity.
This episode highlights the ongoing challenges of reform, transparency, and political accountability in Liberia’s public health sector. Commentators at FrontPage Africa and other media outlets urge the Boakai administration to ensure that future dismissals and appointments are based on merit and due process. As Liberia continues to strengthen its health institutions post-Ebola, the NPHIL leadership controversy underscores the stakes of balancing professional independence against political oversight.