MONROVIA — Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, and Minister of Health Dr. Louise M. Kpoto appeared before the Liberian Senate Thursday, March 12, after being summoned to explain why they failed to honor a previous invitation from the chamber, an action lawmakers said could amount to contempt of the legislature.
The two ministers were cited by the Senate following their absence from an earlier hearing regarding concerns over unpaid volunteer teachers and health workers across the country.
At the start of the proceedings, senators insisted that only the ministers and their legal counsel remain in the chamber, ordering all deputy ministers and proxies to leave, emphasizing that individuals not directly cited could not be held accountable for contempt.
Lawmakers said the failure of the ministers to appear before the Senate earlier raised serious concerns about respect for legislative authority and the oversight role of the chamber.
One senator stressed that under Article 44 of the 1986 Constitution, the Senate has the authority to cite officials for contempt when their actions obstruct the legislative process.
“When we invite agents of the executive branch of government and they do not appear, they impede our work,” the senator said during the debate.
According to the Senate, the ministers were initially summoned to provide answers regarding delays in addressing payroll concerns affecting volunteer teachers and health workers who have been working without full government compensation.
Some lawmakers argued that the ministers’ absence represented a breach of constitutional obligations and a lack of respect for the legislature.
“Failure to appear without informing the Senate why you could not appear is grounds for contempt,” another senator asserted.
During the hearing, several senators proposed imposing sanctions, including fines or other penalties, as a warning to public officials about the importance of respecting legislative summons.
One senator suggested that the ministers be fined nearly US$5,000 as part of disciplinary action.
“Contempt charges require sanctions,” the lawmaker argued, adding that failure to enforce such measures could undermine the authority of the legislature.
However, the suggestion sparked debate within the chamber, with other senators urging restraint and cautioning against focusing too heavily on punitive measures.
Some lawmakers emphasized that the primary purpose of the hearing was to address the pressing issue of volunteer workers who remain unpaid.
“We should be delving into why the volunteer teachers are not on payroll and why the volunteer health workers are not on payroll,” one senator said, urging colleagues to prioritize the substantive issue affecting citizens.
Members of the Senate also highlighted the importance of maintaining coordination between the three branches of government as provided for under Article 3 of the Constitution, which outlines the separation of powers.
Several senators acknowledged that both ministers eventually appeared before the chamber and offered explanations for their absences.
The hearing marked the first contempt proceeding conducted by the Senate in the current legislative term, according to lawmakers.
During the debate, multiple senators noted that the Finance Minister had historically maintained a cooperative relationship with the Senate, particularly with the Committee on Ways, Means and Finance.
The committee chair told colleagues that the Ministry had generally been responsive to requests from lawmakers.
“As chair of the committee, I can attest that the Minister and his team have always made themselves available, even on short notice, to answer questions relating to the budget and government payments,” the senator said.
Following extensive debate, several senators called for the Senate to issue a warning to the ministers and move forward with discussions on the payroll issues affecting volunteer teachers and health workers.
Lawmakers stressed that the Senate’s primary responsibility was to ensure that government commitments to workers are fulfilled.
“We raised this issue not because we want to demonstrate power,” one senator said. “The issue was raised on account of volunteer health workers and teachers.”
The Senate is expected to continue its review of the payroll concerns affecting volunteer teachers and health workers in subsequent sessions. Follow The Liberian Post on Facebook and X (formerly twitter).
