Africa-Press – Liberia. — As presidential committee begins Executive Director vetting process today
A committee constituted by President Joseph Boakai to recruit and select three qualified candidates for appointment as Executive Director for the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) is expected to begin the vetting process today.
The committee, headed by Justice Minister Oswald Tweh, has qualified five individuals including a female, one of whom would be appointed by the President, according to people familiar with the process.
The vetting process finally kicks off after the deadline of the 21-day timeframe given by the President has elapsed. However, some very interesting names are seeking to replace dismissed former Executive Director, Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi.
Cllr. Jerome Verdier, Chairman of the erstwhile Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and his brother, Cllr. James Nyepan Verdier, former Chairman of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), are among top candidates for the office of Executive Director of the War and Economic Crimes Court.
Jerome is a prominent human rights activist and environmental lawyer in Liberia. In 2006, he was appointed as chairperson of the TRC.
James is the former Chairman of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), under the former Ellen Johnson Sirleaf regime.
Another topnotch candidate is Cllr. Jallah Barbu, Dean of the Lewis Arthur Grimes School of Law. He is also former chairman of the Law Reform Commission under the Sirleaf led administration. Barbu is also crafter of the act that established the WECC.
Another legal luminary, Cllr. Boakai Kanneh, is also another candidate who is vying for the WECC top post. Cllr. Kanneh is the current Chairman of the Law Reform Commission (LRC).
Veteran journalist and renowned human rights activist, Massa Washington, completes the list of the five candidates. Washington is a journalist with more than 20 years of experience. She also served as a member of the TRC.
The President on August August 15, 2024 constituted the Tweh committee with a mandate to vet and recruit an Executive Director for the War and Economic Crimes Court Office with a 21-day timeline, to recommend three candidates, from which the President would make a final decision.
“There is no doubt that the move will go a long way in helping to restore respectability and integrity to Liberia,” the President said.
Other committee members include George Kingsley, National Civil Society Council; Adama K. Dempster, Human Rights CSO; Cllr. T. Dempster Brown, Independent National Human Rights Commission; and Cllr. Sylvester D. Rennie, president of the Liberia National Bar Association, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia.
Also, the Director General of the Cabinet, Hon. Nathaniel Kwabo, Cllr. Cora Hare-Konuwa , Deputy Minister for Codification, Ministry of Justice; as well as the Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice, Atty. Siaffa Bahn Kemokai.
No Progress in Vetting Process Till Now
The deadline for vetting the Executive Director of the Office of the WECC elapsed over a month ago, causing delays in the establishment efforts, insiders told the Daily Observer last week. The lack of progress, follow-up meetings, and communication, left candidates frustrated about their status.
The WECC’s office was established under Executive Order #131 to put in place the modalities and mechanisms to ensure the creation of a Special War Crimes Court for Liberia and an Anti-Corruption Court. Massaquoi was appointed by the President to lead this process.
However, President Boakai, in August, revoked the initial appointment of Jonathan Massaquoi following criticisms and concerns from stakeholders, including Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey, the 177th Independence Day Orator.
The President’s decision came after public outcry for a more transparent and inclusive selection process. Dr. Pailey and other advocates emphasized the need for reputable Liberian human rights defenders to staff the WECC’s office.
Despite the elapsed deadline and the impending expiration of Executive Order #131, no visible progress has been made in expediting the vetting process.
President Boakai reiterated his government’s commitment to fighting against injustice, impunity, and corruption following the signing of the Executive order #131.
It can be recalled that from September 22-24, 2024, an interagency delegation of representatives from the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Criminal Justice, Homeland Security Investigations, Department of Justice (U.S. Attorney’s Office, Philadelphia), and Federal Bureau of Investigation, were in the country to strengthen U.S.-Liberian cooperation across the justice sector and contribute to Liberia’s efforts to establish a War & Economic Crimes Court.
Unfortunately, the delegation did not meet with the Executive Director of the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court, since that functionary had not yet been appointed.
Instead, the U.S. delegation met with representatives from the Liberian government, as well as Liberian counterparts in law enforcement, the legal sector, and civil society, to build partnerships, exchange ideas, and share experiences with regard to prosecuting complex cases in a trauma-informed and victim-centric way.
According to a US Embassy statement, the delegation brings extensive experience investigating and prosecuting war crimes and other atrocity crimes, as well as victim support.
“We commend Liberia’s commitment to build a War and Economic Crimes Court, and we are proud to send this delegation to Liberia to support local efforts towards justice and accountability,” said Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, Beth Van Schaack. “We stand ready to be a partner as Liberia takes on this challenge, and we hope this visit will be the start of a productive relationship, where both U.S. and Liberian officials can learn from each other.”
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