Monrovia – Reliable pieces of information reaching this paper say the Senate has denied several assistant ministers nominated by President George Manneh Weah.
Report by Henry Karmo [email protected]
The decision, according to very credible sources, is intended to set standards for people nominated to public offices.
According to our source, those denied include Mamensie Kabba, Assistant Gender Minister-designate and Princess Turkolon, Assistant Minister- designate for Tourism.
Our source further informed these newspapers that four other assistants at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were denied, too.
Our main informant, who is a senator, said those nominees were denied owning to “no degree,” or “incompetence.”
“We have agreed to set standards for officials of government. If the nominee is still in school or don’t have a degree, we will advise the President to nominate someone else.
This is a government and not a political party issue,” the Senator, who asked not to be named confided in this newspaper.
This newspaper also gathered that some nominees, who were denied, had long since been acting in their various nominated positions nominated without being confirmed by the Senate.
A specific reference was made to Mr. Alvin Wesseh, whose confirmation has hit rock bottom.
When contacted via mobile phone for comment, Alvin Wesseh promised to call back but did not do so up to press time.
Wesseh was nominated Assistant Minister for Research and Technical Services at the Ministry of Agriculture. Critics say he is not qualified for the position.
He was expelled from the state-run University of Liberia for unruly behavior.
Also, Health Minister-designate, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, Monday, March 19, reappeared before the Senate Health Committee to justify why she should be confirmed as Liberia’s next Health Minister.
Dr. Jallah promised that if confirmed she will work to promote quality health delivery for all especially pregnant women, some of whom die while giving birth.
The Health Minister-designate is currently facing a lawsuit for the ‘wrongful death’ of the late Pastor Desiree Fahnbulleh, who died at Dr. Jallah’s private hospital – Hope for Women International Incorporated – during childbirth on December 8, 2016.
The Fahnbulleh family then filed a US$6 million action for damages for wrongful death lawsuit against the hospital.
They filed their case with the Civil Law Court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
Recently, President George Manneh Weah urged his cabinet ministers to employ based on competence and not along party line.
The Liberian leader spoke on Sunday, March 11, during the 53rd birth anniversary of his wife, Ambassador Clar Marie Weah.