Monrovia – In continuation of the appointment of heads of statutory committees at the House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker, Hans Barchue, now presiding officer of the House of Representatives, has made additional appointments affecting old members who are supporters of Speaker Alex Jenekai Tyler who has recused himself from presiding over the august body.
On Thursday Presiding Officer Barchue appointed Representative Josephine George Francis as the new Chairperson of the House Committee on Executive, replacing Rep. Wesseh Blamoh of Electoral District #1, Grand Kru County. Rep. Acarous Gray was appointed as the chair of the Committee on Maritime.
Rule 7.5 gives the Speaker of the House of Representatives the power to appoint chairpersons, co-chairpersons and members of standing committees in consultation with the House’s leadership. Rule 8.1 empowers the Deputy Speaker to preside over the sitting of the august body and shall exercise all rights and powers assigned to the Speaker.
On Tuesday, Deputy Speaker Hans Barchue also named Representative Munah Pelham- Youngblood of Electoral District #9, Montserrado County as Co-Chair of the Committee on Executive, replacing Hon. Emerson Kamara of District 3, Grand Cape Mount County.
The function of the committee on executive shall be to receive all messages and other documents from the President as well as all proposed legislations.
In the wake of these appointments, Representative Bhofal Chambers of Maryland County has criticized it, describing it as mishap. He said the august body is faced with extraordinary crisis never seen before since the founding of the nation.
“This crisis is not owing to the decline in value in the Liberian society, nor is it in the Liberia,” he said.
“The wrong kind of quality of people is in politics or government. Primarily, the crisis of the governability in Liberia is consequence of two key flaws in our policy or governance architecture.”
“Firstly, good behavior is often not rewarded and bad behavior is constantly not checked. In fact, there is a strong feeling or perception held by people in every nook and cranny of the country that our governance structure is bad behavior that ensures success.
It is no doubt the way why our President, Sirleaf has labeled corruption as public enemy number one.”
Representative Chambers accused the Deputy Speaker for wrongly applying rule 54.2 which gives the power to the speaker to appoint a new chairperson in consultation with the leadership of the House.
“This text or rule is clearly decipherable and unambiguous. It needs no further explanation. In other words, the action in plenary on Thursday was not in conformity with our prescription. Therefore, I must respectfully take us back to our rules,” he mentioned.
Deputy Speaker Barchue appointed new committee chairs and co-chairs for several statutory committees including the Committees on Judiciary, Ways, Means and Finance, the Public Account Committee, and State Enterprises.
Those appointed were: Byron Brown, who maintains his current position as chair on Rules, Order Administration; Representative Bill Twehway co-chair to Byron Brown, replacing Representative Mariamu Fofanan; and Worlea Sawah-Dunah, chairman on Judiciary, replacing Representative Garyah Karmo.
Others include: Representative Prince Moye, chairman on Ways, Means and Finance, replacing Moses Kollie; Jeremiah koung co-chair on Ways, Means and Finance, replacing Representative Sekou Kanneh; Representative Thomas Fallah, Chairman on Public Account, replacing Ben Fofanan; Edward Karfiah co-chair and Garrison Yealue, chairman on state enterprises.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
