Supreme Court Pardons Minister Tweah Amid Assurances to Pay Judicial Workers

Following the writ of arrest issued by the Full Bench of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning has appeared before the Justices and apologized for the delay in judicial workers’ salaries. 

He was accompanied at the grounds of the Temple of Justice by the Solicitor General-designate Nyenti Tuan earlier Tuesday afternoon.

Addressing the Justices of the Supreme Court, Minister Samuel D. Tweah said, the delay in salaries of judicial workers was a result of a technical error, for which he apologized. He said the error has been rectified. 

After his apology, Tweah assured the Justices that their Salaries for September 2022 have been deposited in their respective accounts and the ministry will work to ensure that every employee receives their October pay.

“The month of September is already being paid out and the month of October will be paid by the end of this week respectively,” he assured 

Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh, however, got rid of the contempt and warned the minister that the repetition of those acts will warrant a stiff penalty.

“On the matters of the financial autonomy act, you will henceforth respect and adhere to said the act” Justice Yuoh warned the Minister. 

She furthered: ” The writ of arrest is therefore purged and you are now free to perform your duties as the Minister of Finance and Development Planning.”

It can be recalled that on Monday, November 7, the Supreme Court of Liberia issued a writ of arrest on the Minister of Finance for impeding the Court’s functions and creating a constitutional crisis for the Judiciary.

Meanwhile, Minister Tweah has promised to settle the salaries and arrears of employees within the third Branch of government on or before the week comes to an end. 

Despite the Court’s intervention and Minister Tweah’s assurances, some workers at the judiciary are still skeptical and said they are not convinced.