The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) is urging President Joseph N. Boakai to recall recent appointments of officials made at the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC).
Addressing a press conference Tuesday, September 3, 2024, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson Miamen said all appointees, except one, were handpicked and did not participate in the competitive process.
CENTAL Miamen said 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) as provided for in the Amended and Restated Public Procurement and Concessions Commission Act of 2010.
He said those appointed include Cllr. Sundaway E. Nelson Amagashie, Cllr. Vincent Smith, Cllr. Morris Davis, Mr. Ezekiel F. Nyumah, and Mr. Michael C.G George.
“Following a thorough review of those appointed and considering the findings of an independent panel established in line with the PPCC Act of 2010, CENTAL has observed a significant procedural and legal breach by the president over the appointment of the officials in question,” he said.
According to him, this is because 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.
“CENTAL notes that consistent with its duties under the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA), in March 2024, the PPCC informed the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, that vacancy existed at Complaint, Appeal and Review Panel (CARP) due to expiration of the tenure of CARP members and that the recruitment process would commence,” CENTAL boss said.
He said the requests for Expression of Interest were published for a period of one month on the PPCC website, the Executive Mansion website, and two widely read newspapers and 84 applications were received for the five positions.
He said for transparency in the recruitment process, PPCC invited four institutions to participate in the evaluation process and three agreed to participate which includes the Civil Service Agency (CSA), the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), and the Center for Transparency and Accountability of Liberia (CENTAL).
Mr. Miamen further said CENTAL as member of the vetting committee, reported that 37 applicants were qualified to take the aptitude test, from which 22 persons, including three lawyers and 19 non-lawyers qualified for interview.
He said the panel then recommended the top 10 candidates from which the President could make the appointments consistent with law, and scores of all candidates qualified for the interview stage were also submitted to the President for transparency purposes.
“CENTAL is shocked over the President’s decision to disregard the competitive recruitment procedure, as outlined by law. This is because, 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,” he said.
Miamen said Cllr. Sundayway E. Nelson Amegashie participated in the testing phase of the evaluation and did not participate in the interview stage; as such, she was not recommended by the committee for appointment.
He said 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 and it undermines transparency and accountability and an utter disregard of the work performed by the committee members, including LNBA, CSA, CENTAL and PPCC.
He said this 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.
“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 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,” he said.
