PHOTO: Assistant Justice Min. Wesseh A. Wesseh and 7th Judicial Circuit Court
By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
Just days after protesting MCSS students were reportedly brutalized by state security forces in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, a City Solicitor in the southeastern Grand Gedeh has been sacked by the Justice Ministry for giving students permit to demonstrate.
This is some 440 kilometers from Monrovia.
Grand Gedeh County City Solicitor identified as Attorney Philip Green has been dismissed with immediate effect as a prosecutor for what has been termed, “breach of ethics”.
Article 17 of the Liberian constitution guarantees all citizens the right to peaceful assemble and says:
“All persons, at all times, in an orderly and peaceable manner, shall have the right to assemble and consult upon the common good, to instruct their representatives, to petition the Government or other functionaries for the redress of grievances and to associate fully with others or refuse to associate in political parties, trade unions and other organizations.”
But according to the Assistant Minister for litigation at the Ministry of Justice, Cllr. Wesseh A. Wesseh, the dismissal of Atty. Green came at a result granting a permit to the students at Nursing department of the Grand Gedeh community college to march or hold a peaceful demonstration to present their grievances to the County authorities for the recognition of their department to be accredited.
On Wednesday October 16, 2019, students from the nursing department from the Grand Gedeh community college allegedly “went on rampage” and demonstrated, calling the attention of the Country authorities in demand of their accreditation. One report says the protest was peaceful.
Earlier this year, the Nursing department at the Grand Gedeh community College was shut down after being operated for seven years without any accreditation by Liberia Broad of Nursing and Midwifery during an assessment at the facility.
The Assistant Justice Minister said the City Solicitor granted the permit without the knowledge of the County Attorney, which undermines their practices and procedures adding that any protest or street march must be authorized by the County Attorney and approved by the Ministry of Justice.
Assistant Minister Wesseh added that if even the County Attorney is out of the county, there can be no acting County Attorney.
Cllr. Wesseh disclosed that Atty. Green had on several occasions been undermining the authority of the County Attorney, indicating that the County Attorney is the Chairman of the County’s Joint Security. And the Assistant Justice Minister said that he is the only person by expressed authorization of the Minister may approve any march or demonstration.
Recently, the CDC government said “enough is enough” and vowed to use force to crack on future street protests.