PHOTO: Pres. Weah loves partying and he just might be doing many of this on his current marathon foreign trip
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
Although President George Manneh Weah who has already been away for close to one month now, he has written the 54th Legislature seeking an extension of his trip to December 18, 2022.
The Liberian leader’s request for extension of his trip abroad comes hard on the heels of some major national crisis facing his CDC government, including the Census saga which he issued a presidential proclamation November 11 but did not achieve its desired objective, public outcry by the Supreme Court, Judges and other judicial workers and civil servants over unpaid salaries,
But in his November 18, 2022 communication to the Senate President Pro Tempore, the President outlined that, he is expected to attend the 13th Edition of the Peace and Sports International Forum in Monaco, France.
According to him, he is expected to serve as Special Guest of Honor from 30 November to 3 December.
The Liberian leader noted that, from 13-15 December, he will attend the United States-Africa Leaders Summit at the invite of the President of the United States of America Joseph Biden.
He is expected back home on December 18 this year.
Earlier, the former Liberian international football star-turned politician, wrote the Liberian Senate of his absence from the country from 1 November to 23 November to hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings with his counterparts and business executives.
The trip, according to inside sources cost $1.5 million USD, but that has since been denied by Liberian officials. In fact, the CDC government officials have argued that President Weah’s trip was mostly intended to attract bilateral and multilateral support to boost his government’s pro-poor agenda, pointing to one promise from the government of Hungary to give the country development assistance amounting to some US$50M during his trip to Morrocco..
Appearing as guest on the local radio and online show, Spoon Talk, Liberia’s Finance Minister Samuel Tweh said, the Liberian leader is entitled to US$2,000 as daily allowance for each international trip.
Many Liberians have since criticized the president’s long-running stay away from the country, thus instructing the Justice Minister, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean to chair the Cabinet in direct consultation with him.
Pundits have maintained that these foreign trips aren’t necessary considering the cost attached whilst the country has been grappling with poverty.
If the additional 25 days are granted, which many in Liberia don’t doubt, President George Manneh Weah will be the only president to witness 48 days of absences without being ill.
The president’s latest communication comes when the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Service (LISGIS) is struggling to conduct the 2022 digital National Population and Housing Census across the country with numerous cries from enumerators of not receiving the required logistics for deployment.
LISGIS has also confirmed the logistical challenges while cautioning enumerators to remain calm as the institution is lobbying.
These challenges have led to Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor’s intervention by craving for additional days to enable the institution and enumerators acquire the proper data in the field.
As LISGIS’ leadership seeks an extension of December 2 from the previous November 23, Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor wants December 10 as final deadline to afford efficiency and accuracy of data.
Up to press, enumerators have not received their 25% payment as stated in the contractual agreement with LISGIS.
Others who sat the training are yet to receive their transportation reimbursement and DSA.
Unconfirmed reports say the VP has set Friday, November 25 for payment. This is yet to be verified.