Monrovia – The Center for Transparency and Accountability (CENTAL) has called on President Joseph Boakai to revoke the recent appointments to the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), citing significant procedural and legal breaches.
On August 29, President Boakai appointed five individuals to the Complaints, Appeal, and Review Panel (CARP) of the PPCC, as outlined in the Amended and Restated Public Procurement and Concessions Commission Act of 2010. The appointees include Cllr. Sundaway E. Nelson Amagashie, Cllr. Vincent Smith, Cllr. Morris Davis, Mr. Ezekiel F. Nyumah, and Mr. Michael C.G. George.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
In a statement issued Tuesday, CENTAL expressed concern over what it described as a “significant procedural and legal breach” in the appointment process. The organization highlighted that, according to Part II, Section 10, Sub-section 3 of the Amended PPCC Act of 2010, appointments to these positions must result from a competitive process overseen by the PPCC. The Act requires the PPCC to submit a list of ten candidates—three lawyers and two non-lawyers—from which the President can make his selections.
CENTAL pointed out that while the law grants the President some discretion in appointments, it also mandates a rigorous vetting process to ensure that appointees to the integrity body possess the necessary competence and character.
According to CENTAL, in March 2024, the PPCC informed the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs about the vacancies on the CARP due to the expiration of members’ tenures and indicated that a recruitment process would soon commence. A Request for Expression of Interest was published for one month on the PPCC website, the Executive Mansion website, and in two widely read newspapers—FrontPage Africa and Daily Observer. The process attracted 84 applications for the five positions.
CENTAL further disclosed the PPCC invited four institutions to participate in the evaluation process for transparency, of which three—Civil Service Agency (CSA), the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), and CENTAL—agreed to join. Representatives from these institutions, along with the PPCC, constituted the evaluation committee.
CENTAL reported that 37 applicants were deemed qualified to take the aptitude test, from which 22 candidates—including three lawyers and 19 non-lawyers—were shortlisted for interviews. The panel then recommended the top 10 candidates for the President’s consideration, as required by law. The scores of all candidates who qualified for the interview stage were also submitted to the President for transparency.
The anti-corruption group said to its surprise, the President disregarded the competitive recruitment procedure mandated by law. Except for Mr. Ezekiel Nyumah, none of the other appointees—Cllr. Vincent Smith, Cllr. Morris Davis, and Mr. Michael C.G. George—participated in the recruitment process. Additionally, although Cllr. Sundayway E. Nelson Amegashie participated in the testing phase, she did not attend the interview and was therefore not recommended for appointment by the committee.”
CENTAL criticized the President’s decision as a “flagrant violation” of the PPCC Act, undermining transparency and accountability while disregarding the efforts of the evaluation committee.
The organization further expressed concern that this decision demoralizes not only the successful candidates but also the 84 applicants who invested their time and effort in the recruitment process.
“The decision of the president to appoint individuals outside of the established competitive and transparent procedure, as contained in the Public Procurement and Concession Act flagrantly violates the Act. Additionally, it undermines transparency and accountability and an utter disregard of the work performed by the committee members, including LNBA, CSA, CENTAL and PPCC,” the group said.
CENTAL, a longstanding advocate for integrity, transparency, and accountability in Liberia, emphasized its commitment to supporting efforts to strengthen public integrity institutions and combat corruption. These efforts include timely actions on audit findings, increasing budgetary support for integrity institutions, enacting relevant anti-corruption laws, and ensuring competitive recruitment for public integrity roles.
Recommendations
Given the gravity of this situation, CENTAL called on President Boakai to retract the appointments of those who were not independently vetted and recommended by the panel, in accordance with the amended PPCC Act of 2010. “Such action,”
CENTAL stated, “would demonstrate a commitment to the rule of law and the fight against corruption in deeds, not just words.”The organization also urged the President to respect the independence of public integrity institutions and avoid actions that could undermine public confidence in their leadership and operations, specifically referencing the CARP of the PPCC.
CENTAL concluded by stressing the importance of aligning the actions of the President and other public officials with efforts to build integrity, transparency, and accountability in Liberia. “If President Boakai is truly committed to upholding anti-corruption and other laws governing key sectors, institutions, activities, and processes, then his commitment must be reflected in his actions.”
