Issues Situation Report On Boakai’s First 6 Months: Criticizes Gov’t For Violating Rule Law, Lack Of Transparency & Accountability, But Commends President For Setting Up Office War And Economic Crimes Court
FLASHBACK: Violence at Bea Mountain few months ago
By Our Staff Writer
In a major report on the performance of the Unity Party government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for the first 6 months, the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) has warned this administration that it has largely started off on the path of bad governance, citing incidents of violation of the rule of law, lack of transparency and accountability.
On the protest at the Bea Mountain Mining Company in the western Grand Cape Mount County, the LCC blamed the Liberia National Police for the shooting to death of several civilians in the area, something the Police had denied.
“The Liberia Council of Churches avails that the very police have been accused of discharging live bullets on the Protesters and cannot be the player and referee at the same time with such a critical situation involving the lives of citizens,” the LCC argued.
The LCC’s statement further said:
“What is even more demeaning and an affront to the people of Grand Cape Mount is the decision of Government to provide [five] thousand United States dollars to families of the dead protesters.”
Apart from the fatal incident in Cape Mount earlier this year, the LCC has recorded a number of other excesses by the police and other state security forces, a situation it said the government must put a stop to.
“That shooting incident has led to the lifetime injury of that Child. Another incident occurred on Monday, July 1, 2024, in the Rehab Community where a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed by an officer of the Liberia National Police,” according to the LCC.
The Liberia Council of Churches has therefore, noted that Liberian security forces should avoid what it called these uncivilized and barbaric acts by taking away the lives of citizens.
LCC has also strongly criticized the Boakai government for its disrespect for the rule of law with regard to the long-running tenured position controversy in which some officials holding tenured positions at the LTA and other state entities have been removed from their posts and replace after President Boakai took office on January 22, 2024.
The Liberian Church leaders said that instead of the Supreme Court’s ruling closing the debate, President Boakai later escalated the saga with removal of tenured officials and the intimidation and harassment of others who are still in office..
“This, we believe, should have been the first step taken by President Boakai in line with the law. The decision from the Supreme Court was left undone, and it undermines coordination amongst the three branches of government. For the Council of Churches, the action on the part of President Boakai contravenes the rule of law governing these tenured positions,” the LCC said in its statement over the weekend.
However, one area the LCC has commendation for the Boakai government is his move to sign the Legislature’s joint resolution on the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia, something the Council congratulated the Liberian leader for.
“The Liberia Council of Churches welcomes this bold step on the part of President Boakai and would provide the needed support to ensure that the court is formally established,” the statement said.