Capitol Hill, Monrovia – Drama unfolded on Capitol Hill, the seat of the Liberian Legislature, when a group of lawmakers from the House of Representatives arrived in a convoy of tricycles, locally known as kehkeh, one of the most popular modes of transportation in Monrovia and its suburbs.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Police have barred kehkeh from plying Tubman Boulevard, the busiest street in Monrovia, for safety and traffic control. Despite this, the lawmakers, including Reps. Yekeh Kolubah (District #10, Montserrado County), Sumo Mulbah (District #3, Montserrado County), Jacob Debee (District #3, Grand Gedeh County), and Zinnah Norman (District #1, Gbarpolu County), took this route.
Addressing reporters outside the Capitol Building, the lawmakers said their decision to drive tricycles to work was a demonstration of their disappointment with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning’s failure to disburse funds for their vehicles. They contended that the Senators have received their funds, but the House has yet to receive any.
“We are looking at the issue of legislative discrimination. The group you see there [Senators] have received all of their benefits, their vehicles, and everything,” said Rep. Mulbah. “But here, none of us have received anything, which is very wrong. And this is not just the end of it. We will continue it every time.” Mulbah emphasized that their action should not be taken as a protest, but a warning.
Rep. Debee termed the Finance Ministry’s refusal to disburse the funds as unacceptable and unfair. He said that for the past six months, they have not been given vehicles, which is impeding the work of the House members. Unlike the House, he noted that senators and officials in the executive branch have received all their benefits. His colleague, Rep. Norman, suggested that it was a calculated attempt by the Boakai administration to deny benefits to the predominantly opposition House members. He highlighted that some lawmakers with constituencies in rough terrains have faced significant challenges.
Rep. Kolubah stated that he would use his official vehicle license plate on a tricycle to attend sessions every Tuesday and Thursday.
Over the past months, the House of Representatives has repeatedly complained about the Ministry of Finance’s failure to disburse funds approved for gasoline, stationery, and other legislative functions. Speaker Koffa has faced increasing pressure from his colleagues, who blame him for not pushing the Ministry of Finance to release the necessary funds to support their legislative duties.
Speaker Koffa expressed his astonishment at the Ministry’s actions, especially given the Liberia Revenue Authority Commissioner General’s announcement that the agency is surpassing its revenue targets. He criticized the Ministry for withholding members’ benefits despite the availability of funds in the government’s coffers.
In a stern warning to the Ministry, delivered through Acting Finance and Development Planning Minister Anthony Myers during an open Plenary, Speaker Koffa criticized the Ministry’s decision to withhold the House’s benefits without cause, emphasizing the adverse impact on its members. He warned that if the Ministry does not change its course, the House will resort to a shutdown.
‘I Will Burn Down This Building’
The drama extended to the House chamber, where top Boakai officials were being grilled by plenary. Finance Minister Boima Kamara and Amos Tweh, Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), were summoned to provide clarity on a loan reportedly negotiated by the Ministry of Finance and the LPRC outside of the Legislature.
LPRC Managing Director Tweh testified that the current management inherited a US$7 million loan agreement with Ecobank negotiated by the previous management under the Weah-Taylor administration. He noted that the agreement included and the construction of an expanded storage facility and a-state-of-the-art standard laboratory. Tweh claimed these instruments are beneficial to the government and that his team decided to continue with them. He said his team renegotiated the portion of the agreement to lower the interest rate from 11 percent to 9 percent, saving the government US$450,000. When asked by the Speaker under what authority he executed these agreements without the Legislature’s approval, he cited the Public Financial Management Law of Liberia and the Public Procurement Concession Commission Act, but clarified the money has not been disbursed to the LPRC.
Minister Kamara, who appeared under a contempt charge for failing to honor the House’s invitation on two occasions, began his testimony with an apology. He explained that his absence was due to medical issues that required travel abroad for treatment and an IMF delegation visit to Liberia. His apology was accepted, and he was pardoned.
Addressing the loan issue, the Minister of Finance admitted that the Ministry and the LPRC were negotiating a loan with ECOBANK, but claimed the action was in line with the Public Financial Management Law of Liberia.
Section 31 of the PFM Law, among other things states that “State-owned enterprises and public financial institutions may incur debt through short- and medium-term borrowing and securities issued to finance capital and other non-recurrent expenditures with the express authorization of the Board and written approval of the Minister and the Debt Management Committee. The Legislature shall examine the borrowing limit proposed by the Minister for such entities at the time of submitting central government budget estimates for the following fiscal year.”
Some lawmakers rejected his statement, citing Article 34 of the Constitution of Liberia, which states that “no loans shall be raised by the Government on behalf of the Republic or guarantees given for any public institutions or authority otherwise than by or under the authority of a legislative enactment.” But others agreed with the witnesses.
The Speaker then called for a way forward, and a motion was passed for the Committee on State-Owned Enterprises and Judiciary to review matter and provide recommendations plenary.
However, Rep. Frank Saah Foko, in his amendment, called for Speaker Koffa to set up a specialized committee to handle the matter, but his recommendation was rejected. Furious, Foko burst out in anger and was called to order. Speaking later to reporters, Foko claimed the House was compromised and threatened to burn it down, alleging that the interests of Liberians were not being prioritized.
“They are nincompoops. They are criminals. Nothing here is on the agenda of the Liberian people. These guys are compromised,” he said. “The LPRC boss tampered with the law. He took money that he was not authorized to take by law, and he compromised with the Legislature. So, who are the Liberian people depending on now?” Foko questioned.
He claimed there was evidence that the Ministry of Finance and the LPRC erred in negotiating the loan with a commercial bank without the Legislature’s approval.
