Monrovia – A motion calling for the dismissal and deportation of the General Manager of APM Terminals George Adjei has been placed on hold following a last-minute intervention by Representative Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis of Montserrado County District #4.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Mr. Adjei, Ghanaian, was summoned alongside the Managing Director of the National Port Authority, Bill Twehway by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 4 to state, among other things, why both managements continue to levy excessive charges on storage fees and why management of the port continue to levy fees for demurrage after an Executive Order has barred management from doing so.
Demurrage is a fee charged for storage and overstayed goods at the port.
But in his deliberations, NPA Managing Director, Twehway noted that demurrage is not being collected by APM Terminals, rather by the shipping lines.
He noted that it was through his intervention after he took over as Managing Director that President Weah issued a proclamation cancelling demurrage.
He then vowed to investigate if demurrage is still being collected by the shipping lines at the port.
Meanwhile, as the queries by the lawmakers went on, it became apparent that Mr. Adjei was heading for trouble after the Chief Clerk, Mildred Sayon and her Deputy informed plenary that APM management does not honor any communications from the House, action they said dated back at the 52nd Legislature.
Speaker Bhofal Chambers also testified that he had to use his escort vehicle to deliver the latest citation to the management of APM Terminals before it could be accepted.
In response, Mr. Adjei expressed regret over the incident, but noted that gaining access to APM Terminals involves lots of security procedures that may result to a person or messenger being denied for the first day.
“With regards to challenges with delivery of communications to APM Terminals I must say that it is rather regrettable. On behalf of the organization, no such deliberate attempt will be made by a member of the company from this august body,” he pleaded.
“Access to APM terminals is not easy because of the security arrangements at the port. There are multiple layers of access to APM Terminals, and unfortunately we at APM Terminals do not control these level of assets. The initial assets are controlled by the NPA. So, whoever is delivering communication can be frustrated the first day,” he contended.
His response did not go down well with majority of the lawmakers and after a sustained cross-examinations exercise that highlighted APM Terminals’ 25-year investment agreement with the government, plenary voted in favor of a motion proffered by Rep. Acarous Gray (Montserado District #8) recommending the immediate dismissal of Manager Adjei and his subsequent deportation out of Liberia within one week for grossly disrespecting the House of Representatives.
Gray noted that the action of ignoring the Legislature’s communication was a gross disrespect to the Liberian people and the management’s action was tantamount to the obstruction of legislative functions; something that warrant contempt charges.
But Representatives Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis filed a motion of reconsideration on grounds that the decision taken by plenary was excessive.
Plenary then order rep. Dennis to reduce her motion into a written communication within 72 hours to be tested on the floor.
Earlier, several lawmakers called for a total review of the APM Terminals agreement as they believe is not in the interest of the country; citing the excessive fees charge and the refusal of management to transact with Liberian dollars.
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