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CDC gov’t says no response yet to Global Witness damning criticism

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By our Reporter

“We’ll address it at the appropriate time,” is the response to a Journalist’s question on Tuesday by the Press Secretary to Liberia’s President George Weah regarding strong criticisms by the international campaign group, Global Witness of “illegal interference” in the Liberia Extractive Transparency Initiative (LEITI).

The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) is part of the EITI- a global Standard to promote the open and accountable management of extractive resources.

The London-based international campaign Group on Monday condemned the appointment of former Montserrado County Representative Gabriel Nyenkan, because it was a violation of the LEITI law as “only the LEITI Multi-stakeholder Steering Group (MSG) can appoint or remove the Head of Secretariat[i].”

President Weah’s Press Secretary Sam Mannah told the local OK FM radio evening talk show that the CDC-led government was still studying the Global Witness statement and will come up with a response later.

He did not say when but he said “we are still studying it”.

But Press Secretary Mannah said the government was monitoring the various reactions to the Global Witness statement both from Liberians at home and abroad, which he admitted was mixed.

“Some Liberians in country and abroad say Global Witness was hash and should have addressed President Weah in a better way…Others agree with Global Witness…” Press Secretary Mannah said.

Last week, armed police accompanied the former lawmaker Nyenkan to the LEITI office near the country’s Executive Mansion to ensure that the Head of Secretariat Konah Karmo hand over to him.

Nyenkan told Journalists that he invited the police because Karmoh had refused to respect the President’s order, as Karmoh said that his post was a tenure contract given to him by the MSG.

Karmoh was hired by the MSG after a competitive recruitment process involving other Liberians.

After the drama at the LEITI offices last week,  the MSG had an emergency meeting and called on President Weah to reconsider his decision to “enable the entity fully focus on the crucial task at hand before the country’s next validation due in a few months.”

In its statement on Monday, Global Witness said: “President Weah must immediately withdraw his appointment of Gabriel Nyenkan, allowing Konah Karmo to resume his duties as LEITI Head of Secretariat,” said Simon Clydesdale, extractive industries campaign leader at Global Witness.

“LEITI’s independence is fundamental to its mandate and for the political credibility of Liberia, it cannot be the playground of political appointments.”

Before Global Witness condemnation, local civil society groups also publically criticized President Weah’s appointment of Nyenkan as LEITI’s Head of Secretariat, including the Center for Transparency and Accountability (CENTAL).

“The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) is disturbed by the action of President George M. Weah to appoint the Head of Secretariat of LEITI, in violation of the Act creating the integrity institution,” CENTAL’s Executive Director, Anderson Miamen said in a press statement last week.

 

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