Boakai Hooked for Error In Appointment Again CENTAL Suspects Procedural Lapse In Picking PPCC Officials

Whether it is the haste that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai accords the appointment and/or nomination of officials, perhaps to account for the time he has lost in completing his administration or it is simply a result of ill-advice from his legal advisors, there are often unfavorable feedbacks when those nominations come out of the shell. From his pick of the Executive Director of the War and Economic Crimes Court to the appointment of Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) Review Panel, amongst others, the Liberian leader continues to gross over and violate legal and statutory procedures, and the backlashes continue to haunt him, as THE ANALYST’s Matthew Turry reports.   

The civil society group, Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), has criticized President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for what it described as a significant procedural and legal breach in the recent appointment of his officials at the PPCC.

CENTAL says it discovered the breach after a thorough review of those appointed at the Complaints, Appeal, and Review Panel (CARP) of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC), considering the findings of an independent panel established, in line with the PPCC Act of 2010.

Speaking at a news conference in Monrovia, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson D Miamen said, “Part II, Section 10, Sub-section 3 of the Amended and Restated PPCC Act of 2010 provides that appointments to said positions shall be derived from a competitive process held under the auspices of the PPCC, with a list of ten (10) candidates submitted to the President for the five positions—three (3) for lawyers and two (2) for non-lawyers.”

“The Act further states that, in the event where the President finds only few candidates worthy of appointment, the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission is then required to submit an additional list of vetted candidates for consideration by the President.”

Anderson Miamen opined that in a quest for transparency in the recruitment process, PPCC invited four institutions to participate in the evaluation process, including the Civil Service Agency (CSA), the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), and the Center for Transparency and Accountability of Liberia (CENTAL).

The CENTAL Executive Director Miamen said as a member of the vetting committee, “we report that thirty-seven (37) applicants were qualified to take the aptitude test, from which twenty-two (22) persons, including three (3) lawyers and nineteen (19) non-lawyers qualified for interview. The panel then recommended the top ten (10) candidates from which the President could make the appointments, consistent with law.”

It can be recalled that on August 29, 2024, President Boakai appointed five individuals to the Complaints, Appeal, and Review Panel (CARP) of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC).

Those appointed include Cllr. Sundaway E. Nelson Amagashie, Cllr. Vincent Smith, Cllr. Morris Davis, Mr. Ezekiel F. Nyumah, and Mr. Michael C.G George.

But CENTAL said it was shocked over the President’s decision to disregard the competitive recruitment procedure, as outlined by law, and unlike Mr. Ezekiel Nyumah, one of 10 candidates recommended for appointment by the vetting panel, Cllr. Vincent Smith, Cllr. Morris Davis, and Mr. Michael C. G. George did not participate in the recruitment process at all.

The civil society organization added that although Cllr. Sundayway E. Nelson Amegashie participated in the testing phase of the evaluation, she did not participate in the interview stage as she was unavailable, and as such, she was not recommended by the committee for appointment.

“The decision of the president to appoint individuals outside of the established competitive and transparent procedure, as contained in the Public Procurement and Concession Act, flagrantly violates the Act,” CENTAL said further, adding that it undermines transparency and accountability and an utter disregard of the work performed by the committee members, including LNBA, CSA, CENTAL and PPCC.

“It amounts to ‘business as usual’ and serves to frustrate and discourage not only successful candidates but the 84 applicants who exerted valuable time to participate in the recruitment process,” the organized said in a press statement.

“What is even more concerning is the fact that the vacancy announcement was published on the official Executive Mansion website, signalling a clear intent to comply with transparency and due diligence requirements.

CENTAL Executive Director said in view of the “worrisome development, which borders on commitment to the rule of law and established transparency and accountability mechanism and frameworks,” President Boakai should recall the appointment of individuals never independently vetted and recommended for appointment by the Panel, in line with relevant provisions of the amended PPCC Act of 2010.

“We believe this action will somehow demonstrate a commitment to the rule of law and the fight against corruption, in deeds and not words,” the group said. “The President must respect the independence and sanctity of public integrity institutions and refrain from actions that have the proclivity to undermine public confidence in their leadership and work, the Complaints, Appeal, and Review Panel of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission in this instant case.”

“Commitment to the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts must be matched by the required actions, if Liberians and development partners must be confident that the president Boakai is truly committed to and respecting anti-corruption and other laws governing key sectors, institutions, activities, and processes,” CENTAL said further.