Monrovia – FrontPage Africa has a communication from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf dated October 4, 2016 in which she complained to the pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate Armah Jallah what she described as the unbecoming behavior of Senator Oscar Cooper Margibi County.
Report by Henry Karmo –Â [email protected]
“I fail to understand the motive of the senator who has not only accused Minister Moore of incompetence and unlawful behavior but also charged him with action that has caused the country to lose multiple millions of US dollars.” – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
The President stated in her communication that it was incumbent that she called Pro-Tempore’s attention on the “unbecoming” behavior of Senator Oscar Cooper, who she said had over the past two weeks (counting back from October 4) “intentionally and maliciously defamed the Minister of Public works, Gyude Moore.”
The President in the communication said she could not “understand the motive of the senator who has not only accused Minister Moore of incompetence and unlawful behavior but also charged him with action that has caused the country to lose multiple millions of US dollars”.
The communication said: “Perhaps in this regard, the senator does not understand our country or lack knowledge in the years before Minister Moore assumed the current position when road contracts to which he referred were concluded.
“In this respect he needs only to refer to reports submitted by the General Auditing Commission. Honorable Pro-Tempore, I ask that you intervene in this matter by advising the senator that his false accusation and unfortunate ranting not only unjustifiably hurt minister Moore, who continues to enjoy my confidence and that of our partners, but the County which he claims to love.”
In September senator Cooper as chairman on the Senate Committee on Public Works invited on two occasions the Minister Moore to appear before the Committee on Public works to answer to questions about contracts that the Minister allegedly gave out to contractors, without observing the regulations of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) but refused to appear.
As a result of the Minister refusal Senator Cooper complained the Minister to the plenary of the Senate through a communication but he was asked by Pro-Tempore Jallah to allow the matter be settled in House, a recommendation that was rejected by Senator Cooper. As a result of his resistance Senator Cooper was removed as chairman on the Public works committee.
Senator Cooper was recently invited on a Fabric FM radio talk show over the controversy.
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.
