Grisby, Buchubank or who.
Monrovia, Liberia – Reports231 Media Network has been reliable informed of a recent meeting held by senior official of the “RESCUE MISSION” including President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Justice Minister Oswald Tweh Foreign Minister Sarah Beslow Nyanti, Finance Minister Augustine K. Ngafua, Unity Party Chairman, Rev. Luther Tarpeh, Security Advisor Kofi Woods, Hon. Steve Quiah and senior advisors, among others, in relation to the suspension of the National Election Commission boss Madame Davidetta Browne-Lassannah.
Our source said that yesterday night’s meeting, Thursday, January 16, 2025, revealed that the president’s decision to suspend the NEC Chairperson was triggered by a briefing from Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Sylvester Grisby and the president’s legal advisor, Cllr. Bushuben Keita.
According to our source, many in the UP government immediately called on the president to render his own investigation into the matter. It is reported that with less than 72 hours, many government officials are not happy with the two state men for not providing the full account to the president on the NEC matter.
They contend that such a move by the two senior government officials might undermine the UP administration. Many key stakeholders in the government are concerned about the actions, the governance implications, and the messaging.
Around Monrovia, there are rumours that the presidential minister of state has grown far more powerful than in the previous administration.
According to our source, Rev. Luther Tarpeh, the chairman of the Unity Party, and officials of the party are likewise upset by the two statemen’s behavior. Senior government officials believe that this goes against the good governance and democracy that the UP administration talks about, especially in light of the elections that are coming up in two weeks and 2029.
According to reports, the two top government officials have been criticized by the cabinet members and the RESCUE Legislators for not giving the Liberian leader the full account of the issues at NEC.
Our source inform us that currently, the RESCUE Legislators is working behind the scenes to ensure that the NEC Chairperson is reinstated .
The Rule of Law Legislative Caucus, led by Representative Musa Hassan Bility (District #7, Nimba County), has harshly criticized the suspension, calling it illegal. The Caucus underlined that maintaining democracy depends on the NEC’s independence, which is guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Supreme Court of Liberia has categorically declared that the suspension of tenured officers is equivalent to their dismissal, the Caucus stated. Only through the impeachment procedure, which involves the National Legislature, are such removals legitimately permitted. The President has overreached himself, violated the separation of powers, and jeopardized constitutional safeguards by eschewing this procedure.
The suspension of the NEC Chairperson, who presided over the controversial 2023 elections, erodes public trust in the democratic process and creates a risky precedent of Executive overreach, the Caucus said.
The question now is, “IS PRESIDENT BOAKAI GOING TO REINSTATE MADAM DAVIDETTA BROWM-LASSANNAH?”
