The suspended Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism Rev. Dr. Lawrence Bropleh has resigned. The tough spoken former Information Minister announced his resignation on January 15, 2010 after rumors of his removal widen like wide fire in the city.

Dr. Lawrence Bropleh: “As I move to provide the appropriate defense to the array of misconceptions, false interpretations and clear fabrications concocted by Mr. John Morlu and his General Auditing Commission, I shall without coercion, voluntarily resign as of his pronouncement by virtue of my dedication to the people of this country and the value and principles that must govern public service practice”.

He said his resignation will afford him time to establish sufficient defense as the case progresses. “This I believed will also provide me the required latitude to mount an effective defense in clearing not just my name but restoring quickly the momentary lapses this has caused my integrity and that of the image of this government. I will submit in the coming days a comprehensive technical analysis of the John Morlu Draft Audit Report for the public to understand and appreciate the flaws, inconsistencies and mere fabrications put together simply out of envy”, Rev. Bropleh disclosed.

The one time confident of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was suspended by the Liberian leader after a scam involving nearly US$300,000.00 was uncovered on the payroll of the Ministry of Information. The scam was in connection with the alleged misappropriation of the salaries of some Foreign Service employees which the top two Financial Officers of the Ministry were involved.

Days after the scandal was uncovered, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf without delay asked Dr.. Bropleh to immediately return to Liberia to help with the investigation. He was later suspended after preliminary report linked him to the act.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf later asked the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to launch a full skill investigation into the matter and submit report to her office for prompt action. GAC is a statutory body responsible to audit government ministries and agencies and establish whatever fraud possible.

After months of investigation, the GAC released a draft report of the audit conducted at the Ministry of Information which linked Dr. Bropleh responsible for most of the financial improprieties and fraud at the Ministry.

Dr. Bropleh has however condemned the audit report terming it as unprofessional document poorly handle out of malice on the part of Auditor General John Morlu.