The Unity Party (UP) led government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has come under scrutiny for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to prevent the appointment of former Liberian Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Dee Maxwell Kemayah, as the Resident Representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Kemayah, a close confidante of Ex-President George Manneh Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), was reported to have been appointed by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, to represent the regional body in neighboring Sierra Leone.
Sources have revealed that the Boakai-Koung administration, through its Ministers of State for Presidential Affairs and Foreign Affairs, Sylvester Grigsby and Sara Beysolow Nyanti respectively, with the approval of President Boakai, have been actively opposing Ambassador Kemayah’s appointment.
According to insiders from the international community, the Liberian Executive Mansion, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these ministers persuaded President Boakai to formally object to the appointment.
They recommended Ambassador Marjon Kamara, a former Foreign Minister under ex-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for the position instead.
Minister Grigsby allegedly instructed Liberia’s Ambassador to Nigeria and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Ambassador Al-Hassan Conteh, to convey the administration’s objection to the ECOWAS Commission.
However, ECOWAS reportedly rejected the request in a response dated June 6, 2024.
The regional body asserted that the position of Resident Representative is not statutorily reserved for any specific member country and that the appointment lies solely within the purview of the ECOWAS Commission President.
“This appointment of Ambassador Kemayah falls under the exclusive authority of the ECOWAS Commission President, in line with the decision made by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in December 2014,” a source explained.
“The position is non-statutory and not designated for any particular member state. The President of the ECOWAS Commission has the mandate to appoint any qualified citizen from the ECOWAS community.”
Investigations reveal that Ambassador Kemayah’s selection was based on his competence, professional performance, and the respect he garnered during his tenure as Liberia’s Foreign Affairs Minister.
His strong stance against corruption, professionalism, results-oriented approach, and adherence to principles of accountability and transparency were cited as key factors influencing the ECOWAS Commission President’s decision.
Despite the ECOWAS rejection of the Liberian government’s objection, sources indicate that Ministers Grigsby and Beysolow Nyanti encouraged President Boakai to pursue further objections.
President Boakai reportedly raised his concerns with Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio during the South Korea-Africa Summit, urging him to withdraw his support for Ambassador Kemayah’s appointment.
Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti also conveyed the administration’s objections to her Sierra Leonean counterpart, Timothy Kaba.
Nevertheless, Sierra Leone rejected these appeals, maintaining that the appointment of Ambassador Kemayah is a non-statutory process that predates President Boakai’s election.
The ongoing efforts to block Ambassador Kemayah’s appointment have sparked concerns about the motives behind the Boakai administration’s actions and the potential implications for Liberia’s representation within ECOWAS.
The international community, along with multiple sources within the Liberian Executive Mansion and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has expressed dismay at the administration’s attempts to influence the appointment process.
These actions are viewed as an unnecessary distraction from the pressing issues facing Liberia and an erosion of the public trust in the government’s commitment to uphold democratic principles and regional cooperation.
The controversy surrounding Ambassador Kemayah’s appointment underscores the challenges of political maneuvering within regional organizations and the importance of transparent and merit-based appointments.
These complexities are accompanied by the need for responsible and principled leadership which could become ever more critical to ensuring the nation’s stability and progress on the regional stage.
