Monrovia, Liberia — The Group of 77 has announced the immediate suspension of its Deputy Public Relations Director, Mr. Clifford Payne, who is currently under investigation in connection with a suspected drug-related matter.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the organization clarified that Mr. Payne is an employee of the Group of 77 and emphasized that recent public reports had prompted the need for an official clarification regarding his status. According to the release, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) is leading the investigation.
The Group of 77 also highlighted that it operates under the statutory oversight of the Office of the Vice President of Liberia. That office supervises several national programs and institutions, including Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN), the Liberia Marketing Association, ONE Health, and the National Center for Coordination of Response Mechanism (NCCRM).
The administration said the suspension was enforced in keeping with its commitment to accountability and ethical standards within the institution. The organization urged the public to remain calm and avoid speculation while authorities continue their inquiry.
“We call on everyone to refrain from drawing conclusions until the competent authorities conclude their investigation and the matter is fully adjudicated,” the statement read.
