Monrovia – While on its “Agriculture Break”, President George Weah nominated and commissioned Mr. George Patten as Liberia’s Ambassador-designate to the United States of America without Amb. Patten facing the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee for confirmation.
Report by Henry Karmo, [email protected]
President Weah has come under heavy criticisms for Amb. Patten’s confirmation when didn’t get confirmed by the Senate.
The President’s critics accused him of blatantly violating the constitution. However, some feel that the President did the right thing.
On Tuesday, January 15, the Senate, in its first working session after Agricultural Break, Senator Nyounblee Karnga Lawrence of Grand Bassa County wrote plenary requesting it to write and invite Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar Milton Findley to appear before that body to show reasons while the procedure of appointing officials of government was violated.
The communication was read and sent to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Dan Morias of Maryland County with a mandate to investigate and report back to plenary in a week.
In response to the President’s action, Representative Yekeh Kolubah of Montserrado County District #10, wrote the United States Government to deny the Letters of Credence of Liberia’s Ambassador-designate, because of constitutional violations.
According to the Liberian Constitution, all ambassadorial appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Rep. Kolubah has been a permanent critic of President Weah and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government.
While commissioning Patten, President Weah used the occasion to hail Liberia’s traditional diplomatic relations with the USA, a relationship spanning nearly a century and four scores.
He called on Ambassador Patten to work towards strengthening and sustaining the long cherished relationship between the two countries.
President Weah urged him to uphold the confidence reposed in him by diligently ensuring that Liberia and the United States continue to enjoy their longstanding diplomatic relations.
The President also mandated him to use his presence in the U.S. to explore opportunities that would benefit his country and people.
Ambassador George S.W. Patten previously served as Liberia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, and Chargé d’Affaires a.i., at Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the UN.
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