MONROVIA – Majority members of the Liberian Senate are currently engaged in a heated debate regarding the confirmation proceedings for all presidential nominees, particularly those nominated for tenure positions. The Senators are divided on whether to outrightly reject or hold confirmation proceedings for nominees to the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
By Henry Karmo, [email protected]
Senators, particularly those from the opposition bloc including Abraham Darius Dillon, James Biney, Conmany Wesseh, Jonathan Karpay, and Jonathan Boy-Charles Sogbie, argue that while the President has the constitutional power to appoint and the Senate has the power to confirm or deny nominees, it is not politically prudent to confirm nominees for tenure positions with the upcoming Presidential and Legislative elections just four months away.
In their argument, the Senators acknowledge the President’s constitutional authority to appoint individuals to public positions in the executive branch of government, even in the final hours of their administration. However, they believe it is politically incorrect to appoint individuals to tenure positions so close to elections, especially given the situation involving current commissioners whose contracts with the government were automatically terminated by the amended LACC law passed by the legislature.
Senator James Biney of Maryland County, once an ally of President George Weah, stated that if the Senate were to act on the communication from the President containing names of nominees to be confirmed for LACC tenure positions, it would undermine the Senate’s authority by confirming nominees for positions already occupied within the LACC.
“We cannot simply do anything the President wants because we are the same Senate that confirmed the current commissioners in the tenure they currently occupy. What is the logic in confirming new nominees while those with tenure have not expired? Are we not contributing to the confusion?” Senator Biney argued.
With the current composition of opposition senators, it is expected that President Weah will face difficulties in navigating the Senate to pass legislation or secure confirmations for key nominees, especially for tenure positions, during the final days of his first term.
On the other hand, Senators supporting the President argue that because the President has the constitutional authority to make appointments, his nominations should not be subject to debate, as doing so would infringe on the President’s authority.
Supporters of the Senators’ decision, based on the passage of the amended LACC law, argue that the previous law is no longer in effect, and the new law takes precedence. However, it is undeniable that the current commissioners at the LACC have contracts with the government, and that cannot be changed.
After hours of debate, the Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Albert Chie, decided to halt the confirmation process for nominees of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). Pro-Tempore Chie announced that he considered the process to be both legal and procedural, based on the controversial arguments that arose on the Senate floor following the reading of an agenda item requesting the reading of a communication from President George Manneh Weah regarding the nomination of officials for the LACC.
President Weah recently nominated several officials to the LACC, including Cllr. Alexandra Kormah-Zoe as Chairperson, Mr. Ernest R. Hughes as Vice Chairperson, Mr. Randolph E. Tebbs as Commissioner of Monitoring and Investigation, Miatta Jeh as Commissioner of Monitoring and Investigation, Atty. Samuel F. Dakana as Commissioner of Monitoring and Investigation, Cllr. Oretha Snyder-Davis as Commissioner of Prosecution, and Cllr. David A.B. Wilson.