Liberian Senate Places LACC Nominees’ Confirmation on Hold Amid Disagreements

CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – Senate Pro Tempore Albert Chie has seized a motion calling for the confirmation of nominees of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) due to its associated legal, procedural, and political natures.

It can be recalled that on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, President George Weah sent an official communication to the Senate submitting the names of nominees of the LACC to be confirmed, and the communication was read and put on the floor for further legislative actions.

The nominees are Cllr. Alexandra Kromah Zoe, Chairperson, Mr. Ernest R. Hughes, Vice Chairperson and Mr. Randolph E. Tebbs, Commissioner, Monitoring and Investigation among others.

Following the reading of the communication, several Senators, many of whom were from the opposition bloc, stressed that despite the President having the constitutional right to appoint, the Senate also has the confirmation power.

Senators Abraham Dillon, James Biney, JonathanKaipay, and Conmany Wesseh among others, said it was not politically prudent to confirm nominees at tenure positions when the country is just four months away from the October 10, 2023 presidential and legislative elections.

“A matter come before us has to be taken both from the legal and political side, we have taken a political decision that all tenure positions that due should be withheld that we shouldn’t and mustn’t deal with those positions and support them be confirmed, let it be known to the President Weah and whom else that all tenure position will be under consideration until after the elections,” Senator Conmany Wesseh noted.

However, some senators of the ruling party including Numene Bartekwa, Augustine Chea, Simeon Taylor, and Gbleh-bo Brown said it was more convenient for the Pro-tempore to continue the confirmation proceedings of the nominees.

The Senators said once the Senate enacted a new law creating the current Commission, it completely gave rise to the nomination of new Commissioners to the LACC.

“You voted and the act was passed, let go to read it and we the Legislature pass it, it was not President Weah who pass, so where you coming from now to say the President is violating the laws, the President didn’t make the law, the law we talking about was never made by the president and as such, the President has violated no law,” Senator Augustine Chie said.

Following the heated debate on the floor, Pro-tempore Chie said the agenda item is expected to be re-introduced by next Tuesday.

By Emmanuel Toe