Monrovia – The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) has mandated its Political Leader Ambassador Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah to lead the party and provide political direction from now to the 2029 general and presidential elections in Liberia.
By Obediah Johnson
Ambassador Kemayah is the former Foreign Affairs in the government of former President George Manneh Weah.
The NEC of MOVEE gave the mandate at the end of an emergency sitting held at the party’s headquarters in Paynesville, outside Monrovia on Saturday, June 8.
In the resolution signed and endorsed by executives from the 15 counties, including the Montserrado, Bassa Chapters, and the National Women and Youth Leagues of the party, the NEC maintained that Ambassador Kemayah remains the political head of the Party for the six years that he was elected for.
Ambassador Kemayah was overwhelmingly elected at the party’s national convention held on September 17, 2022.
The party emphasized that Ambassador Kemayah remains the best suited to provide political direction for MOVEE due to his requisite leadership skills, qualities and the high level of integrity he continues to uphold.
“We the members of the National Executive Committee of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) unanimously resolved and here declares a vote of absolute confidence in the wholesome integrity, professionalism, credibility, ability, leadership qualities, and astuteness of His Excellency Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. and with immediate effect petition and mandates Ambassador Kemayah to guide, lead, and provide political direction for the Movement for Economic Empowerment.”
The NEC maintained that the former Liberian Foreign Affairs Minister remains an “invaluable role model and mentor to us for transparency and accountability in the party.”
“It is important to point out that Ambassador Kemayah has since the formation of MOVEE up to present never been involved with a single cent or material of MOVEE and more So, Ambassador Kemayah has also never been a part of the financial and/or material management of MOVEE. Hence, we further extend our deepest gratitude to Ambassador Kemayah for his support to the party before, during and after its formation long before the 2017 general and presidential elections.”
The party furthered frowns and terms as barbaric, uncivilized and gross violation of its constitution, the Tuesday May 14, unprovoked attack on its headquarters and peaceful partisans by expelled former National Vice Chair for Administration, Assistant Secretary General, County Vice Chairman for Administration for Montserrado and a partisan purposely to burglarize and illegally seize control of the premises of the party, according to them.
Mr. K. Matthew Shan, Mr. Jeremiah E. Paye, Goodrich S. Cheayah and Patrick P. Karmo were expelled from the party for acts that run contrary to MOVEE constitution.
The NEC cautioned Goodrich S. Cheayan who was certificated by the National Election Commission as a Representative candidate of the Economic Freedom Fighter of Liberia (EFFL) and ran in District #3 Sinoe County during the just ended general elections, to desist from constantly interfering into the activities of MOVEE of which he is not a member.
“We further stress that the persistent intrusion by Mr. Cheayan into MOVEE activities, if not stop by him will lead us to no other alternative but to seek legal redress.”
The National Youth and Women Leagues, Bassa, Montserrado and other chapters of MOVEE also endorsed the expulsion of their former leaders, including Mr. Karso Harris as former National Vice Chair for Communication and Media Relations, and reaffirmed their support to Ambassador Kemayah as their Political Leader.
They claimed that recent utterances and actions of the expelled officials contravene Article 18 Section 6 (g) of MOVEE 2016 Constitution which amongst other things prohibits any action that embarrasses the Party or that brings the Party to public disrepute as may be determined by the National Executive Committee, National Convention, County Chapter or any Branch of the Party.
They condemned and rendered as fraudulent, misinformation, disinformation, irresponsible and cowardice the Tuesday June 4, “so-called press statement” issued by the expelled former officials that their Political Leader has been expelled
They further requested the NEC to review the provisions of the Bi-Laws and Constitution of MOVEE that have to do with the duties and responsibilities of the positions of the Political Leader/ Standard Bearer, National Chairman, National Secretary General and other positions making up the National Executive Committee, as well as the duties and functions of the National Executive Committee and the National Convention and make changes where applicable.
They mandated the NEC to ensure the revision or amendment for the sole purpose of bringing the same to current reality within the political landscape of Liberia.
MOVEE, however, cautioned the public against doing business with the expelled individuals in the name of the party.
Meanwhile, executives of MOVEE have reaffirmed to the ideals and values of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and its Standard Bearer former President Dr. George Manneh Weah, adding that, “MOVEE remains a constituent member of the Coalition of Democratic Change throughout the 2029 General and Presidential Elections.”
Prince Mehn, Aston Holder, Jeffery Siafa and Lee Yarzue are currently serving as acting National Chairman, Secretary General, and acting Chairman of Montserrado and Nimba counties respectively.