Sinoe Lawmaker Upset with Ministers' Snubbing of House's Summons

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: Sinoe County District #3 Representative Alex Noah has strongly descended on senior government officials, who he said have deliberately ignored summons from the House of Representatives.

He said the unjustifiable actions of some ministers and heads of government entities in declining summons meant to ensure accountability in government institutions are eroding the authority of the national Legislature and undermining public confidence in governance.

Representative Noah raised the alarm after what he described as heads of ministries and agencies treating legislative summons with contempt, often sending junior staffers in their places or offering what he called “weak excuses.”

He said the latest incident, involving the Deputy Foreign Minister, Cllr. Jeddie Armah, reneging on an appearance before the Plenary, has crossed a dangerous line.

Cllr. Armah reportedly informed lawmakers he needed to attend to an emergency over the illness of his daughter after being scheduled for critical hearings.

But Representative Noah argued that even emergencies do not justify abandoning plenary without formal communication. He warned that such an approach, if left unchecked, would encourage what he termed disrespect for the Legislature.

“The Deputy Minister left the presence of this honorable body without even notifying the Secretary of the House,” Noah said on the House floor. “You cannot just walk out of Plenary because you feel like it. This House is not a playground. It is the first branch of government.”

The Sinoe County District #3 Representative, Alex Noah, also pointed to Health Minister Dr. Louis Kpoto as a frequent offender. “We have seen ministers ignore our calls, give excuses, or send office staff instead of coming themselves. That is not accountability; that is mockery,” he said.

The lawmaker said the House leadership holds a shared blame, alleging that the Speaker, Richard Nagbe Koon, has been reluctant to impose sanctions on defiant government officials, contributing to the situation.

“When leadership fails to act, it gives credence to these ministries and agencies to disrespect this House,” Noah said. “That is exactly what is happening now.”

Noah stated that the alarming refusal of ministers to submit to legislative scrutiny is fueling public perception that the Legislature is corrupt, which in reality lies with non-performing and unaccountable ministries.

“The people think we are the problem, but it is these ministries that are not functioning and are deliberately running away from oversight,” he said.

Meanwhile, the lawmaker proposed strict enforcement of the House’s contempt powers. “Any official who refuses to honor a summons should be held in contempt and must return with their lawyer to fully explain their actions".

“This House must reclaim its authority if we are serious about accountability and good governance,” Noah declared.