Weah ‘Conquers’

-As Lawmakers, Others Trooped To Witness Him Sign Loan Agreements

By Reuben Sei Waylaun

President George Weah is said to be the most celebrated Liberian leader as he conquers the country as its chief administrator.

The supports President Weah, a former member of the Liberian Senate is getting from the Liberian people, particularly members of the National Legislature seem to be an actualization of statement from previous leadership of that august body that they want to produce President one day.

The election of President was long predicted during the opening ceremony of the 53rd Legislature by Bomi County District One Representative Edwin Melvin Snowe.

That statement was further buttressed by then Speaker of the House of Representatives Alex Tyler, when he recommended (but failed) that an amount of US$1million be allotted to each of the 73 electoral districts to complement the US$200,000 budgetary allocation to each of the 73 electoral districts as County Development Funds (CDF). President George Weah joined the Senate in the 2014 Special Senatorial Election.

President Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor were both members of the Liberian Senate and their colleagues are still active in the House.

With such admiration, pundits are now saying it is one of the reasons behind the speedy ratification of the two loan agreements by them.

The two ‘controversial loan agreements’, the Eton Finance Private Limited and EBOMAF SA in the tone of US$962million were signed by the Liberian Government and subsequently ratified by the National Legislature last week.

According to the Liberian Government, the two loans will go toward infrastructures, particularly roads in the country. Road according to the government remains one of the major challenges facing the growth and development of the country since 1847.

While President Weah was touring roads in central Liberia, Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor signed the loan agreements as president of the Liberian Senate.

However, on Thursday June 14, 2018, activities on Capitol Hill came to a momentary standstill as majority of the lawmakers, cabinet ministers, directors and other partners trooped at the temporary seat of the Liberian leader (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to witness the Liberian chief executive as he signed the ratified version of the loan agreements into law.

They were seen trooping, smartly attired and flanked around the President as he signed the agreements into law.

Members of the National Legislature who have been heavily accused of hastily ratifying the two agreements were squared up at the Foreign Ministry to witness the Liberian leader signed the agreements.

At the House of Representatives, members of that august body resumed their Thursday’s session at 1:00pm instead of the 10:00am time that is official as per their rules.