By Our Staff Writer
It has been revealed in Monrovia that the newly nominated Liberian Ambassador to the United States, George Patten, Sr, who was commissioned by President George Manneh Weah last Saturday, was not confirmed by the Liberian Senate as mandated by the Liberian Constitution.
In an interview with the local OK FM Radio’s phone-in breakfast show on Monday, January 2, 2018, the Chairman of the Senate standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Maryland County Senator Dan H. Morais, Ambassador Patten was never confirmed by the Senate through a confirmation hearing.
But this contradicts what transpired last weekend at the Executive branch of government over the weekend, when President Weah commissioned Ambassador Patten as Liberian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the US,
Articles 55and 56 of the Constitution requires that all cabinet ministers, Ambassadors and a certain category of other top officials appointed by must be confirmed by the Liberian Senate before being appointed and commissioned by the President.
“Article 55
The President shall appoint and commission Notaries Public and Justices of the Peace who
shall hold office for a term of two years but may be removed by the President for cause. They shall be eligible for appointment.
Article 56
- All cabinet ministers, deputy and assistant cabinet ministers, ambassadors, ministers and consuls, superintendents of counties and other government officials, both military and civilian, appointed by the President pursuant to this Constitution shall hold their offices at the pleasure of the President.”
Senator Morais, who has recently been on a visit abroad, said the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator Commany B. Wesseh had earlier confirmed to him that no such confirmation of Ambassador Patten was done.
The Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman said commissioning such public official without going through Senate confirmation was a violation of the Liberian constitution.
There is so far no reaction from the Executive Mansion.
During the commissioning ceremony at his Foreign Ministry office last Saturday, President Weah encouraged Ambassador-designate Patten to represent Liberia’s best interest at his new assignment.
The Liberian leader also advised Ambassador Patten to be mindful of the special relationship subsisting between Liberia and the United States of America.
For his part, Liberia’s Ambassador-designate to the United States, Ambassador George S.W. Patten Sr, promised to promote and push Liberia’s Foreign Policy to the highest level while performing his duties and responsibilities to the best of his ability. Ambassador Patten thanked President Weah for the opportunity and the confidence reposed in his ability to serve Liberia at that ambassadorial level.
Ambassador George Patten previously served as Liberia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, and Chargé d’Affaires a.i., at Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the UN.
He replaces Cllr. Lois Brutus, who has been serving in the post since November 2016.
But Madam Gibson’s appointed was later withdrawn. And she was later appointed and commissioned Liberia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom.