PHOTO: Foreign Min. Kemayah (center) said this when he had farewell reception for two departing foreign diplomats
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The special presidential investigative committee probing the recent Liberian diplomatic passport is yet to complete its report and submit its findings to President George Manneh Weah, Foreign Minister Dee Maxwell Kemayah has disclosed.
The scandal grew out of recent seizure of a Liberian diplomatic passport from a suspected money launderer, Sheik Basaru Kantey in the United States.
President Weah on May 10, 2022 put an immediate halt to the issuance of Liberian diplomatic passports. His action followed a report in a leading daily, FrontpageAfrica concerning the Kantey situation in the US. The Liberian leader later set up the special investigative committee, which is yet to complete its report.
Minister Kemayah said the committee has requested for support to travel to Ghana purposely to interact with the contractor that personalizes the passport. The Liberian leader later set up the special investigative committee, which is yet to complete its report.
The Foreign Minister said following the return of the special investigative committee, their recommendations that will be made will be forwarded to President George Weah with a cover letter.
Minister Kemayah made the disclosure during a farewell reception for the in honor of the outgoing Guinean Ambassador, Abdooulaye Dore and the outgoing Vatican Ambassador Arch Bishop Dagobaro Salos on the occasion of the end of their tour on duty in Liberia.
According to him, the committee is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister, Theresa Duncan-Sawyer and assisted by two agents from the National Security Agency.
Farewell to diplomats
Commenting on the two diplomats, Minister Kemeyah described their tour of duty as very rewarding and contributive to the reconstruction of the social infrastructural in the country.
He also thanked the diplomatic community for the contributions towards the social, economic and political development in Liberia.
He then honored the two diplomats their contributions during the tour of duty on behalf of the Liberian government.
Guests at the reception
In remarks, the out-going Guinean Ambassador, Abdolaye Dore, expressed regret for being unable to construct the Guinean Embassy and residential quarters after a land was given by the Liberian government.
Foreign Minister Kemayah admonished the Liberian government to ensure that the 2023 presidential and legislative elections are conducted under peaceful atmosphere in the country
The outgoing Guinean diplomat, who served for 18 years in Liberia thanked officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the level of cooperation between his office and ministry and urged them to give the same to his successor
Also making remarks, the outgoing Vatican Ambassador Arch Bishop Dagobaro Salos, who has been posted to Panama, thanked Liberians for the level of cooperation during the tour of duty in Liberia
The reception was graced by a cross-section of the members of the diplomatic community, the leadership of the Guinean community top members of the management team at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others.