By Alex Yomah
The Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD has launched its latest Legislative and monitoring performance reports, stating that out of 73 representatives, 30 lawmakers failed in attendance.
IREDD also recorded that the Legislature as weak and lacks political independence to effectively exercise its oversight responsibilities required by statutory mandate.
IREDD Executive Director, Mr. Matthias M. Yeanay, monitors and recorded that less than 10% of the 120 Government Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) that received direct budgetary support on a fiscal basis submitted budget performance reports on Representation Lawmaking, and Oversight.
Giving an overview of the report, Yeanay, stated that Legislative and monitoring Performance report, 30 representatives scored F, failed to be in attendance and adequately while few representatives were muted.
He named the 30 Representatives who scored F for low plenary attendance which include; Lawrence Morris-IND. Dist. 1 Montserrado County; Thomas P. Fallah-CDC Dist. 5 Montserrado county; Samuel Enders-IND. Dist. 6 Montserrado County; Yekeh Y. kolubah IND. Dist. 10 Montserrado County; Edward W. Karfiah PUP Dist. 5 Bong County; Hans M. Barchue-IND. Dist. 1 Grand Bassa County; Mary M. Karwor/UP. Dist. 2 Grand Bassa County; Vincent S.T. Wille-IND. Dist. 3 Grand Bassa County; George S. Bolley/UPP Dist. 2 Grand Gedeh County; Crayton Oldman Duncan/UP Dist. 2 Sinoe County; Francis S. Dopoh/UP Dist. 3 Rivergee County; Nathaniel N. Bahway 1 Grand Kru County; Finda Gborie Lassanah/IND. Dist. 1 Bomi County; Haja Farta Siryon/PUP Dist. 3 Bomi County; Manah Bishop Johnson/CDC Dist. 2 Bomi County; Alfred G. Koiwood-CDC Dist. 1 Gbarpolu; Joseph M. Matthews, Jr./IND. Dist. 3 Gbarpolu County; Clarence G. Gahr/CDC Dist. 5 Margibi County; Emerson V. Kamara/CDC Dist. 3 Grand Cape Mount County; Mambu M. Sonii/LP Dist. 2 Grand Cape Mount County;
Seven senators frequently attended plenary sittings, scored A for high attendance while Senator Marshall fell below the passing mark and scored F for low attendance.
For instance, Abraham Darius Dillon-LP, Montserrado County spoke 275 times; and his counterpart, J. Milton Teahjay-UP, Sinoe County spoke 269 times followed by Senator J. Gbleh-Bo-Brown/IND. Maryland County spoke 148 time; Numene T.H. Bartekwa/IND. Grand Kru County spoke 140 times; Varney G. Sherman/UP Grand Cape Mount County spoke 128 times Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence/LP, Grand Bassa County 128 times among others.
IREDD Says all senators and representatives represented Liberia at ECOWAS and any other are asked to represent Liberia outside of the country often marks absent because they don’t make report to the people of Liberia.
Also speaking about senators those who were not very frequent in plenary’s participation and scored low marks include, Jim W. Tornolah/PUP, Margibi County 39 times; Jeremiah Kpan Koung/MRD, Nimba County 36 times; Edwin Melvin Snowe/IND. Bomi County 36 times; Simeon B. Taylor/ANC, Grand Cape Mount County 32 times; Morris G. Saytumah/UP, Bomi County 29 times; A. Marshall Dennis/CDC, Grand Gedeh County 28 times; Prince Y. Johnson/MRD, Nimba County 28 times followed by Zoe Emmanuel Penue-CDC Grand Gedeh County 28 times Botoe Kanneh/IND. Gbarpolu County 27 times Francis S. Paye/NDC, Rivercess County 26 times; Henrieque F. Togbah/IND Bong County 23 times Joseph Jallah/IND, Lofa County 12 times respectively.
