MONROVIA — Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh has expressed concerns over the government’s prolonged delay in releasing an official investigative report on the fire incident that gutted parts of the Capitol Building last December.
By Obediah Johnson, [email protected]
He warned that continued inaction could mirror the unresolved circumstances surrounding the fire at the Executive Mansion nearly two decades ago.
Speaking during the regular session of the Liberian Senate on Thursday, May 29, Senator Konneh, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Accounts and Audit, emphasized the need for accountability and transparency in addressing the December 18, 2024 blaze that destroyed the Joint Chambers and several offices at the Capitol Building —the official seat of Liberia’s National Legislature.
The incident occurred amid political turmoil over the attempted removal of former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa.
Senator Konneh lamented that five months after the incident, the public remains in the dark about the cause of the fire. He noted that neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Liberia National Fire Service has provided a clear account of what happened, despite earlier promises of an investigation backed by foreign experts.
“It is taking too long for Liberia and its citizens to know exactly what happened at the Capitol Building,” Senator Konneh said. “Before we put more resources there, we need to know what caused the fire. Our constituents deserve clarity—was it an electrical fault or an act of arson?”
Drawing a parallel to the unresolved fire that damaged the Executive Mansion in 2006, Senator Konneh warned that the Capitol Building could suffer a similar fate if immediate steps are not taken. He recalled that despite an allocation of US$80 million for the Executive Mansion’s rehabilitation, the structure remains incomplete, and no one was held accountable for the incident.
“Nothing came out of the Executive Mansion fire. Nobody was indicted. Nobody paid any price. Whether it was electrical or arson, we still don’t know. We cannot let that happen again,” Senator Konneh declared.
He stressed that if President Joseph Boakai is to fulfill his constitutional obligation to report to the nation through the Legislature, the Capitol Building must be fully functional and safe.
He called on the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia National Fire Service to present a detailed report, not only to the Senate but also to the Liberian public.
“Our workplace was severely damaged by the fire. We cannot rely on media reports or unofficial sources. The relevant authorities must provide the facts. We need to restore the joint chambers to operational standards with accountability,” Senator Konneh added.
He further disclosed plans to push for a review of the $1.8 million reportedly allocated for assessing the damage caused by the fire. He emphasized that taxpayer funds, not donor contributions, should be prioritized for the building’s rehabilitation to maintain national ownership and transparency.
Senator Konneh vowed to engage both his legislative colleagues and the executive branch to trace how the assessment funds were used, stating that transparency must be the cornerstone of the recovery process.
In response to his concerns, the Senate took immediate action. Based on a motion filed by Bong County Senator Prince Moye, the Plenary — the Senate’s highest decision-making body — agreed to summon officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia National Fire Service to appear before the body on Tuesday, June 4.
The summoned authorities are expected to provide a comprehensive update on the findings of the fire investigation, the current status of the Capitol Building, and plans for reconstruction.
