The Grand Bassa News, B**g, Grand Bassa (2024)

03/03/2024

Illegal Miners Set to Spoil Sacred Creek in Gbarpolu

Illegal miners are set to dredge a sacred creek in a town in the Bopolu District of Gbarpolu County.

The miners who work for Weedor Gee, a businesswoman who hails from the region, built dredge on the Tumu Creek. Gee has no prior history of holding a mining license, records of the Ministry of Mines and Energy show.

Tumu Creek is revered in the Korninga Chiefdom, and it is a sacrilege to even put a canoe over it without a traditional rite, locals say.

Initial videos and photographs obtained by The DayLight show the miners building the machine. Others taken a week later reveal two miners assembling the makeshift machine on the creek, ready to operate.

In 2019, the ministry imposed a moratorium on dredging nationwide. The suspension, which is still in place, was meant to curb the pollution of water bodies across the country and the degradation of the rural environment.

But the dredging and other forms of illicit mining continue to proliferate in remote regions, polluting streams and threatening local traditions.

Samuel Fahn, the mining representative in the region, had issued Gee a clearance late last month. Gee paid Fahn US$400 for the clearance, with both of them confirming the transaction.

Clearance fees for mining agents are not legal but are accepted by authorities. An outgoing official of the ministry, who asked for anonymity, said it was meant to empower mining agents to function.

The leadership of the Korninga A Community Forest, in which the creek is located, raised qualms about the dredge, based on the videos and pictures.

“The document says class C but the materials they are carrying are for dredging,” said Emery Ciapha, the acting chairman of the Korninga A Community Forest.

“I know that the… Ministry of Mines and Energy is not offering a license for dredging in this country,” Ciapha added in an interview in Tawalata Town. He said he would monitor the situation “closely.”

Gee said in a phone interview that dredging would keep illicit miners away. “We want to stop people from invading our farmland, that is the main issue that carried me there,” she said.

03/03/2024

MAP Liberia’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy Launched

Stakeholders in land governance and responsible agricultural investment have launched the Private Sector Engagement Strategy for the Multi Actors Partnership Platform on Land Governance in Liberia (MAP Liberia).

The strategy seeks to engage key players in the private sector whose activities impact land based investment in Liberia and especially impact the lives and rights of communities affected by investments.

It also aims to bring stakeholders together to discuss and raise awareness about the need to ensure Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) principles and other international, regional, and national policies and protocols for food and nutrition security improvement.

Launching the strategy on February 22, 2024, Grand Gedeh County, District #3 Lawmaker, Jacob C. Debee II called for the strengthening of the legal and regulatory framework governing land tenure and investment in agriculture in the country.

He said to make such happen, it requires enforcing laws that protect communities land rights and ensuring adherence to internationally recognized principles that aim to resolve land disputes swiftly and impartially.

He mentioned that Liberia has seen both the negative and positive impact of agricultural investment.

“While some projects have brought infrastructure, jobs, and market opportunities to rural areas, others have resulted in land disputes, displacement, and loss of livelihood for local communities. We can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. Instead, we must strive for a model of development that is inclusive, equitable, and environmentally sustainable," she said.

It was incumbent upon the country to foster a conducive environment for responsible agricultural investment while upholding the principles of good land governance.

“This will require a multi stakeholder approach involving government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, and the local communities,” he explained.

Significant portion of the population and contributing to the country’s GDP. However, attracting investment in the sector must go hand in hand with safeguarding the rights of local communities, protecting the environment, and promoting inclusive growth, Irresponsible investment practices such as large scale land acquisition without proper consultation or compensation can exacerbate poverty, exacerbate our already dire food insecurity problem, and fuel social unrest.

The Grand Bassa County lawmaker said transparency and accountability must be embedded in all stages of land allocation and agriculture investment processes.

“The government must strengthen the public registry of land ownership and transactions, promote participatory land use planning, and strengthen the process of carrying out social and environmental impact assessments for all proposed investment projects,” he warned.

According to him, civil society organizations and the media play a crucial role in monitoring these processes and holding stakeholders accountable for their actions.

He called for the need for capacity building and raising awareness, which, according to him, is essential for empowering local communities to assert their land rights and negotiate for a fair deal with investment.

“This includes providing legal assistance, technical training, and financial literacy programs to vulnerable groups, particularly women and marginalized communities,” he mentioned.

He further mentioned that international cooperation and partnerships are indispensable for addressing transitional issues related to land governance and agriculture investment.

“Liberia can learn from the best practices and experiences of other countries while also leveraging support from international organizations, development partners, and private investors committed to the sustainable development goals,” he stated.

Providing an overview of the strategy, the National Project Coordinator of MAP Liberia, John F. Kelvin said the development of the Private Sector Investment Strategy started in 2022 with the goal of operationalizing the work of the MAP initiative.

He said MAP Land Platform, brings together CSOs, government of Liberia, Private Sector to ensure good land governance and responsible agricultural investment.

According to him, it was necessary to ensure Responsible Agricultural Investment principles and other international, regional, and national policies and protocols like the CAADP/Malabo goals, SDGs, the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) and among other policies.

He said the MAP strategy will engage key players in the private sector whose activities impact land based investment in Liberia and especially impact the lives and rights of communities affected by investments.

“To buttress the development agenda of the government of Liberia, the MAP Liberia Land Platform is actively engaged with key government line ministries and agencies, as well as development partners, to promote responsible investment in agriculture and food system that contributes to food security and nutrition which support the progressive realization of the right to food in the context of responsible agriculture investment,” he said.

03/03/2024

LNP Dispatches Investigative Team to Restore Calm in Kinjor

The Liberia National Police (LNP), has dispatched a team of investigators to restore tranquility and thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the deadly riot in the concession area of Bea Mountain Mining Company (BMMC), Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County.

Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman called on the public to remain calm and said that efforts are being made to restore calm, in order to conduct investigation.

Residents and employees of BMMC, staged a protest in Kinjor to demand better and improved living and working conditions, job security and life insurance. In viral photos posted on social media, protesters were seen lying in blood with deep cuts on their bodies.

“The Police Inspector General, Gregory Coleman, has promptly deployed a combined operational and investigative team to Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County,” LNP said in a facebook post. “The primary objective of this team is to restore tranquility and thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the riot in Kenjor, Grand Cape Mount County. Subsequently, appropriate measures will be taken accordingly.”

According to the statement, the public will be promptly updated on casualties and the actions taken to address the situation.

Though the police statement did not include casualties or death, reports said three people died and several were injured. The situation prompted the senate to invite the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Oswald Tweh and Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman for a full security briefing.

Since the signing of the second agreement between Bea Mountain and the government of Liberia, residents of communities near the mining company including local leaders and elders have expressed dissatisfaction, accusing the company of bad labor practice.

Bea Mountain, a subsidiary of Avesoro Resources, got its first concession agreement for gold extraction from western Liberia in 2001.

03/03/2024

Tenured Officials Suffer Delay at Supreme Court

Amidst the absence of a scheduled date for their reappearance, tenured officials from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the Governance Commission (GC) found themselves in limbo following an inconclusive initial conference. On February 28, a number of tenured officials from the two entities gathered at the Supreme Court, hopeful for a resolution regarding their protest against President Joseph Boakai's decision to remove them from office.

They had convened at the court in anticipation of progress in their case. Unfortunately for them, Presiding Chamber Justice Yussif Kaba declined to proceed with the proceedings in the absence of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, leaving the officials without a clear path forward.

Adding to their uncertainty, Justice Kaba refrained from providing a specific date for the next hearing, indicating that the timing would hinge on the decisions of all five Supreme Court Justices should either party decide to appeal Justice Kaba’s ruling.

President Boakai’s administration has defended its actions by invoking Article 56a of the Liberian Constitution, stipulating that officials in the Executive branch serve at the President's discretion.

Article 56a states: “All cabinet ministers, deputy and assistant cabinet ministers, ambassadors, ministers and consuls, superintendents of counties and other government officials, both military and civilian, appointed by the President pursuant to this Constitution shall hold their offices at the pleasure of the President.”

Boakai and his Unity Party government have since become embroiled in legal challenges over attempts to remove the officials from tenured positions, a move that has caused the affected officials to seek a Writ of Prohibition from the Supreme Court, through its Justice in Chamber Yussif D. Kaba, against the seating of the newly appointed Governance Commission Chairman, Professor Alaric Tokpa, in response to lawsuits filed by all five LTA commissioners and the head of the GC.

The five LTA commissioners and the current head of the GC, Garrison Yealue, have described President Boakai’s action as unlawful and violates the 2007 Liberia Telecommunications Authority Act and the Act establishing the Governance Commission.

The government's decision to remove officials in tenured positions has sparked criticism from various quarters, including the Law Reform Commission and the Judiciary Committee of the Liberian Senate. The head of the Law Reform Commission, Cllr. Boakai Kanneh and the head of the Judiciary Committee of the Liberian Senate, Cllr. Christian Chea of Sinoe County, noted that the President is proceeding wrongly.

However, the Cabinet supported President Boakai's actions but faced legal challenges, prompting the issuance of the Writ of Prohibition.

“The cabinet has authorized the President, and it has been concluded as government policy that all of those tenured positions that the president will exercise his authority to appoint people in any position in the executive whether the person has tenure or not except those positions that are protected by the Constitution of Liberia,” said President Boakai’s Legal Advisor Cllr, Bushuben Keita.

Keita added: “If the tenure was created by statute, it is a position of the government that violates Article 56a,” Keita said.

He underlined that some tenured officials had allegedly violated the National Code of Conduct by engaging in party politics and campaign activities during the 2023 elections. He asserted that such actions could lead to their dismissal without compensation, emphasizing the incompatibility of active political involvement with tenured positions.

“You cannot be a tenured official and you actively take part in politics, serve on a campaign, post all your campaign photos, and do all else and still expect your tenure to be respected or expect to be paid if your tenure is taken away,” Keita said.

However, the petitioners, representing the LTA commissioners, have requested the court to prevent their unlawful removal and uphold the principles of justice and legality.

“That Petitioner says and avers that prohibition is the appropriate remedy to prohibit the Government of the Republic of Liberia from proceeding contrary to law by nominating Prof. Alaric Tokpa to the position as Chairman of the Commission while his tenure is still active and effective for the period of four years in said autonomous agency, as provided for by the Article 89 of the Liberian Constitution which gives rise to the creation of the Governance Commission,” the petition averred.

For the LTA, the petitioners include all five commissioners, Edwina Crump Zackpah (Chairperson), Israel Akinsanya, James Gharwen, Zatowon Titus, and Osborne Diggs.

25/02/2024

Ganta Methodist Hospital Workers End Strike

The workers’ union at Ganta United Methodist Hospital have concluded their strike action after reaching an agreement with the management following several days of negotiation.

The decision to cease the go-slow action was reached on Tuesday, February 20, after four days of shutdown.

The strike commenced due to the hospital’s failure to pay salaries for two months, resulting in the closure of various hospital departments. During the negotiations, the workers’ union raised concerns about low salaries, salary increments, disrespectful behavior from the administrator, salary advances, timely payment of salaries, and other benefits.

The management agreed to initiate timely salary payments and address some of the workers’ demands, except for salary increments due to the current financial challenges facing the institution.

The management assured the grieving workers that beginning March 2024, the monthly salary payment would be prompt or on time.

The hospital’s Administrator, Mr. Allen Zomoway, attributed the salary delays to the hospital’s financial constraints, stating that the operational costs exceed the income generated.

He mentioned the high payroll expenses, electricity bills and maintenance costs as major financial burdens on the hospital. Zomoway explained that patient admissions sometimes result in unpaid bills, and the reduction in government subsidies has added to the financial strain on the hospital.

“The hospital currently has a staff of about 265–275, costing about U$21,000 monthly for payroll, while another huge cash expense goes to electricity and other maintenance works,” he said.

“Our regular electricity bill from Jungle Energy Power is US$500.00 every day.”

He said most of the patients in the hospital cannot pay their bills. Some were brought by police from the scene of an accident or from a disaster like a fire incident.

“Some treatments are done on gratis, [especially if] brought in by police or from accidents by Good Samaritans,” Zomoway said, adding that the annual government subsidy had been reduced to US$50,000 from US$350,000 in the last three years.

“The management even finds it difficult to receive all the approved US$50,000 from the government,” he added. However, he appreciated the government for more government doctors and nurses assigned at the hospital.

The hospital has also experienced a decrease in support from U.S. partners, possibly due to policy differences related to gay marriage.

“Our US partners are not sponsoring us like before due to policy differences,” he said.

The administrator doesn’t clarify what he means by policy differences, but it had been insinuating that Global Mission had reduced her support to Methodist because of the church refusal to endorse gay marriage.

“This hospital cannot survive on intake alone, so we are going to cut down costs or reduce staff to enable us to pay our staff on time,” he said.

Following the strike action, the management plans to implement cost-cutting measures, potentially impacting staffing levels to ensure timely salary payments. The strike disrupted hospital operations, leaving patients without medical attention and raising concerns, particularly regarding the care of pregnant women and other vulnerable patients.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Albert Willicor, emphasized the importance of uninterrupted healthcare services, expressing concerns that strikes may negatively impact patient care and public trust in the hospital.

The recent strike action has highlighted the financial challenges faced by Ganta United Methodist Hospital and the need for sustainable solutions to maintain essential healthcare services.

This is one of the major ‘go slow’ actions at the hospital recently, where all departments closed their doors, leaving the hospital completely deserted, with‌ no electricity.

At the time of the strike, patients on the various medical wards were screaming for help or treatment, but nobody could pay attention to their conditions.

Ganta United Methodist Hospital is one of the leading referral hospitals in Nimba, but the repeated strike actions have brought the entity and its staff to public disrepute, with many stressing the strike posed threats to those seeking medication, especially pregnant women.

“Our job doesn’t require strike or go–slow, because if any patient dies, we will be criticized, with many believing that we are more concerned about money,” said Dr. Willicor.

25/02/2024

US National Defense Varsity Fellows Here on Research Tour

February 16, 2024, steered in another landmark feat for Liberia’s national security and defense cooperation between the Ministry of Defense/Armed Forces of Liberia (MOD/AFL) and US Department of Defense. This was consequent to MOD/AFL receiving a delegation of 19 distinguished fellows from the National Defense University (NDU), USA, led by Gen (Rtd) Thomas D. Waldhauser and Rear Admiral Gerard Mauer (Rtd). Other members of the delegation comprised senior military officers from the US Armed Forces. The team was on pivotal study tour to the Republic of Liberia and MOD/AFL in particular. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen military engagements and enhance strategic discussions relating to bilateral partnership between the MOD/AFL and US Department of Defense.

The visit commenced with a meeting with the Acting Minister of Defense, Brig Gen Geraldine J. George (Rtd). The acting minister welcomed the distinguished fellows and expressed her delight for their choice of Liberia as destination of their visit. Furthermore, the Minister highlighted the substantial support the MOD/AFL received from the United States since 2006 when the new AFL was formed. She also acknowledged the AFL as a “Force for Good”, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of US support received by the armed forces on reforms, trainings, and equipping.

Additionally, the Minister commended the pivotal role played by the State Partnership Program with the Michigan National Guard, which bolstered ties between the AFL and US Armed Forces. Similarly, the Minister pointed out that it is gratifying for the team's choice to visit Liberia after a keenly contested Presidential election. The Minister also conveyed the warm compliments of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the AFL to the team and wish them fruitful study tour.

Relatedly, the NDU team engaged the Chief of Staff (COS) AFL, Brig Gen Davidson F Forleh in a strategic discussion. In attendance were the Deputy Chief of Staff and other principal staff officers of the HQ AFL. The COS explained Liberia's longstanding relationship with the United States by underlining the mutual benefits derived from this collaboration.

He further Provided the team with a comprehensive overview of the AFL's achievements through US support and expressed satisfaction in the standing of the AFL as a national asset. The COS affirmed that the enduring support from the United States reflects a robust bilateral relationship between the two nations.

During the interactive session, the COS outlined his top command priorities as: discipline/professionalism, provision of logistics for the AFL, and improving welfare of personnel. He expressed concerns over contemporary security challenges in West Africa which adversely inhibited Liberia’s growth.

The COS highlighted the security challenges as terrorism from the Sahel, maritime crime in the coastal states, militancy, youths’ restiveness, porous borders, illicit drug trade, and illegal arms/ammunition trade amongst others. He added that the existing collaboration with the US Government, especially the Michigan National Guard, is known for its instrumental role in building the capacity of personnel in the Liberian National Coast Guard.

Following the meeting with the Chief of Staff, the NDU team received a comprehensive 30-minute briefing from the AFL Assistant Chief of Operations, Col Joseph T. Gayflor. The brief highlighted the successes gained from the US partnership, including training, mentorship, and equipping.

He also outlined challenges faced by the AFL, such as attrition, unimproved training facilities, limited training aids, inadequate housing facilities, and equipment shortages resulting from wear and tear. The NDU team further engaged with 25 selected AFL personnel from the 8 rotations (LIBBATT 1 to 8) that previously served in the MINUSMA peacekeeping mission in Mali. The meeting provided a platform for an exchange of experiences and insights, which further enriched the mission of the team.

Finally, the MOD/AFL expressed heartfelt appreciation to the NDU delegation for their visit, recognizing the significance of such exchanges in advancing the shared goals of security, stability, and cooperation. The visit was adjudged as a testament to Liberia's enhanced capacity in peace support operations, underscoring the success of the fruitful collaboration with the United States.

25/02/2024

Miners Stealing A Special Sand In Brewerville, Royceville

Quezp Mining Company, a Liberian-owned firm, has a pair of licenses for mines in Sinoe County. However, it operates two illegal mines in suburban and rural Montserrado, according to an investigation by The DayLight.

Established in May 2022 by Terrance Collins, a Liberian businessman, Quezp acquired the two licenses to prospect for zircon sand in Kpanyan District, Sinoe, official records show.

But the company established two other operations in Brewerville and Royceville without any licenses. Official records show that it does not have any active licenses other than the ones in Sinoe. There are no records of a Quezp license being under review, surrendered, suspended, canceled, or expired.

Quezp has operated the illegal mines since February 2022, according to residents and people involved in the illicit operations. That was about three months before the company was established and more than a year before it obtained the licenses for Sinoe.

“I am here most often with my pickup for transportation business and I see them pass here with the sand most often,” said Saah Amara, a resident who transports building materials into Brewerville. “We want them to leave this place because they are not helping us at all.”

Mining without a license is an offense under the Minerals and Mining Law. Violators face a fine of up to US$2,000 and a 24-month maximum prison term, or both fine and imprisonment if convicted by a court.

Quezp conducts the two operations as one. The company buys zircon sand from Royceville and transports the mineral to its mine and processing plant in Brewerville.

Fifteen minutes from the VOA Junction, the Brewerville site is nearly surrounded by a huge, green mangrove and palm forest. It is several yards away from the ocean.

Denied access to the site, The DayLight used a drone to sight the mine. The elevated view showed the royal blue plant enveloped by giant-sized piles of zircon sands. A forklift loaded a truck with 25-kilogram bags filled with the mineral, used in the ceramics industry. China and Australia are the biggest importers of zircon sand, with Africa an emerging market. Global trade is estimated to reach US$3.69 billion by 2029.

Representatives of Quezp purchase zircon sand from residents in the rural Montserrado area for up to US$75 for a truckload, the residents said.

Gus Doe Howe, Sr., a trucker who lives in that region, commonly called Tony, transfers the sand to a particular location.

The records of the Ministry of Mines and Energy show that Quezp Mining Company does not have license for its operations in Brewerville and Royceville

Afterward, the company transports it to Brewerville, processes and prepares the mineral for export, the residents said.

“I am a fisherman but I also do black sand mining for daily survival. The sand we mined has been sold at US$20 for a pickup load and US$75 for a truckload,” Jacob Jackson, a Royceville resident told The DayLight in an interview at the mining site.

“We mine black sand here and one guy named Tony comes here daily with his pickup to buy it and transport it,” Justine Gayflor another RoyceVille resident. Black sand is the local name for zircon sand.

The DayLight photographed about a dozen mounts of sand in an array on a Royceville beach. Large holes lined up nearby as the ocean gradually reclaimed the disturbed shoreline.

Quezp Mining Company illegally operates on a beach in Royceville, Rural Montserrado. The DayLight/Charles Gbayor

Tony confirmed his involvement in the illegal activities in a phone interview. He had left the area four hours earlier when The DayLight arrived there, residents said. Tony, however, denied buying the mineral on behalf of Quezp.

“I, just go there with my pickup to transport the sand for them from the mining site and I take it to a point where the guys who buy from the company can get it,” Tony said.

Collins, Quezp’s owner, is linked to other companies—Wayful Mining Company Limited, Hauli Company Liberia Limited and Glorious Mining Company, to name some. They hold some of the 52 zircon sand licenses the Ministry of Mines and Energy issued from 2012 to last year, the records show.

Collins declined an interview with The DayLight.

25/02/2024

Boakai, Koung under Scrutiny over Recent Trips

Members of the House of Representatives have begun a process of seeking clarifications into recent trips out of the country by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung. Among other things, the lawmakers, through the exercise of their oversight responsibility, want to know who bore the financial burdens or travel expenses of the two statesmen, while also wishing to be abreast with the outcomes of those travels.

The Executive Mansion announced President Boakai’s working visit to Ghana on February 13, 2024. The initial communication stated the President would meet with Ghanaian President Akufo-Ado to discuss mutual interests and regional issues. Upon his return on the 14th, the official release mentioned a meeting with the Vice President of Ghana, instead of the President, with no details on the discussed topics. The Ghanaian presidency’s official website did not mention President Boakai’s visit, leading to confusion about the trip’s outcomes and the lack of official communication. Prior to his departure, President Boakai told the Legislature in a communication that his trip was meant to hold consultations with his friend and brother, Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana.

Though the Executive mansion did not shed much light on the President’s trip, reports have since emerged that he traveled on a chartered private plane to Ghana.

Also out for criticism is VP Koung, whose office shared photos of him, boarding a private jet bound for Accra, en route to Nigeria to represent President Joseph Boakai at the Bayelsa State Governor’s Inauguration.

Koung has since denied that he chartered a private jet, which reportedly belongs to a Ghanaian businessman — indicating that he was given a free ride by the businessman, who, according to the report, is the founder of Engineers and Planners and Dzata Cement Limited.

The use of private jets by public officials, a contentious issue during former President George Weah’s administration, has sparked debate over the appropriateness of such expenditures in governance.

Article 90(b) of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution and the National Code of Conduct law prohibit public officials from seeking or accepting special privileges or benefits related to their duties, highlighting the importance of ethical conduct by government personnel.

The controversies around these travels have, however, claimed the attention of the Members of the House of Representatives who have instituted an investigation into these matters.

The lawmakers unanimously voted on Thursday to summon Sylvester M. Grisgby, the Minister of State and Presidential Affairs, who is also the Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, as well as Finance and Development Planning Minister Boimah S. Kamara, to provide comprehensive and financial reports of the President’s two-day visit to Ghana.

The comprehensive report, according to Plenary, should specify whether or not the private jet charter flights were paid for by the Government of Liberia as well as pictorial evidence of the President’s visit to Ghana, including the list of those who accompanied the President on the two-day working visit.
Further, the financial report should include the allowances of those who accompanied the President, among others.

The House of Representatives also agreed that a comprehensive financial report of Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung should also be formed as part of the President’s report.

The plenary’s decision to have the ministers summoned was triggered by a communication from Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Y. Kolubah, who emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in government expenditures.

Rep. Kolubah, in his communication, stated that his intention is in the fight against corruption and the promotion of accountability and transparency, which are among the issues that led to the failure of the Weah-led Government, especially the failure of its re-election.

The Montserrado County lawmaker argued that the President of Liberia wrote the Legislature about his two-working days visit to Ghana; to hold consultations with his friend and brother, Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana; while the Vice President also went to Nigeria and Morocco, respectively.

“We believe such trips require the government’s sponsorship. And if it is not the government-sponsored trips, we need to know as the people’s deputies. Besides, it became a concern when it was stated that the President and Vice President travel on private jet planes,” Rep. Kolubah said.

“Considering that we don’t want to do business as usual, we crave the indulgence of this August Body to invite the Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Presidential Affairs to appear before the plenary of the House to provide detailed information as stated below: The Travel cost of the various travels by the President and Vice President as stated above: The owner of the private plane used by Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung, since it is being speculated that the owner of the plane is the Vice President’s friend; and details about the expenditures of the respective trips.”

Several representatives supported the summons to ensure thorough oversight and transparency in the handling of official trips. Those in support were Representatives Clarence Gahr, Frank Saah Foko, Taa Wongbe, Musa Bility Thomas Goshua, Edward Flomo, Alex Noah, Jacob Debbie, Priscilla Cooper, and Robert Womba.

Rep. Dorwon Twain Gleekia and Foday Fahnbulleh opposed the summoning and said the House of Representatives was treading wrongfully.

The motion to summon the ministers, however, received support from a majority of representatives, with some expressing concerns about the need for clarity and accountability in governmental travel expenses.

Following the motion proffered by Rep. Thomas Romeo Quiah, 35 Representatives voted in favor, while four voted against and five abstained. Those who voted against the motion were Reps. Emmanuel Dahn, Dorwon Twain Gleekia, Ernest Manseah and Foday Fahnbulleh.

The Grand Bassa News

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