15 Staffers Fired From Voice Of America Hausa Service Over Allegedly Accepting Improper Payments

Firings

The VOICE OF AMERICA is firing 15 staffers -- over half of its Hausa language service staff -- for allegedly taking improper payments from a West African official. 

The VOA's Director AMANDA BENNETT told staffers of the move in an e-mail last week, and the staffers were terminated or notified of pending termination on THURSDAY morning (10/4).  The Hausa service is targeted at NIGERIA and to adjacent countries including NIGER, CHAD, GHANA, and CAMEROON.  The terminations followed an investigation into reports of the payments, and BENNETT said in the e-mail that another investigation is looking into whether the payments influenced programming.

The VOA reports that it intends to continue producing its weekly 16 hours of radio and half hour of TV in Hausa despite being shorthanded with 11 permanent government employees and contractors.  FRED COOPER, a former Hausa Service Chief, is returning to oversee the service for now.

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