MONROVIA – Former Minister of Finance and Development Planning and now Gbarpolu County Senator, Amara Mohammed Konneh, has drawn an interesting comparison to the fire that gutted the Executive Mansion – the official residence of the Liberian presidency – on July 26, 2006, shortly after the country’s return to democratic governance following a 14-year devasting civil war that took the lives of more than 250,000 people, to that of the Capitol Building fire incident of December 2024.
Senator Konneh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts and Audit, made the comparison after submitting a formal communication to the Senate plenary on Thursday, May 29. He urged the Senate to summon the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia National Police and the Liberia National Fire Service to explain the delay in releasing the final report on the December 2024 Capitol Building fire.
Like the Executive Mansion, which was gutted by fire on July 26, 2006 during a state luncheon held by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with her African colleagues attending, and over US$80 million were allotted through different budgets over the years, but the mansion is yet to be fully renovated/reconstructed, in the 2005 national budget, US$1.8 million has been allocated for the renovation of the Capitol Building following the fire incident.
The appropriation followed recommendations from the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget, chaired by Bong County Sen. Prince K. Moye, who emphasized the symbolic and functional importance of the structure.
Konneh urged his colleagues to back his request for an appearance by the relevant institutions to provide a detailed update on the investigation. “The Capitol Building — our workplace — suffered significant damage from that fire, and it is crucial that we address this matter urgently,” Konneh told plenary.
Sen. Konneh drawing a comparison to the fire that gutted the Executive Mansion — the official residence of the Liberian presidency — on July 26, 2006, shortly after the country’s return to democratic governance, lamented “Despite over $80 million reportedly spent on renovations, the Executive Mansion is still under construction nearly two decades later.”
“I remember when I was Minister of Finance, I disbursed the first US$35 million for that project,” he added. “Now, the people’s house — the Capitol Building — has also been destroyed by fire.”
Konneh noted that the cause of the Executive Mansion fire was never publicly disclosed, with no one held accountable. He warned that the same fate must not befall the Capitol Building.
Bomi County Senator Amara M. Konneh addressing plenary at the Senate, called for justice and fire authorities to release the long-delayed Capitol Building fire report. The blaze, which occurred on Dec. 18, 2024, destroyed the joint chambers of the Capitol Building during a tense leadership crisis in the House of Representatives.
Preliminary findings by the Liberia National Police, with support from foreign fire investigators, indicated that arson was the likely cause. Several individuals were identified early in the investigation as persons of interest. But nearly six months later, no final report has been made public, raising public concern and intensifying demands for transparency and accountability.
The Gbarpolu County Senator acknowledged that fire investigations can be complex, but said five months should have been sufficient time for authorities to conclude and release their findings. “To address the concerns expressed by our constituents during constituency visits, we need clarity on whether the fire was caused by an electrical fault or a deliberate act of arson,” he intoned.
Konneh added that both lawmakers and the public deserve full disclosure about what he described as a destructive and historic incident. He emphasized the urgency of restoring the joint chambers to a safe and functional condition. “We all saw the Capitol in flames — that’s where the President addresses us and the nation. This is not something to take lightly,” he averred.
Expressing frustration, Senator Konneh urged lawmakers to demand answers rather than rely on speculation and rumors. “A lot is being said about this incident, but as national leaders, we are advised not to respond to every rumour. This is why we need the responsible institutions to appear before plenary and provide facts, so the Legislature and Executive can work together to prevent such incidents in the future,” he iterated.
Meanwhile, the Senate unanimously endorsed Senator Konneh’s request following a motion by Bong County Senator Prince Moye, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget.
The Senate Secretariat has been directed to issue formal invitations to the Ministry of Justice, Liberia National Police and Liberia National Fire Service to appear before the plenary at a date yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, political pundits say there is a need for a full closure of the fire incident at the Capitol Building, where people were arrested, charged to court and are presently in jail at the Monrovia Central Prison for alleged arson, among other charges as they are on trial. They argue that Liberians need to know the final outcome because there were mixed public reactions to the incident and therefore, a verdict is needed for full closure on the matter.
