With barely three months to the national elections, President George Manneh Weah continues to make appointments in government giving way to his allies to contest seats to be vacated soon in the Legislature, which clearly ignores his own amendment to the Code of Conduct.
Part V of the Code of Conduct sets restrictions for government officials appointed by the President who are desire to contest in any electoral process but this instrument has been repeatedly disrespected by the CDC-led government, evidenced by some who ignored the provisions therein knowing that there will be absolutely no penalty under this government.
The CoC states that any person in the category stated in Section 5.1 who desires to canvass or contest for an elective public position be it Minister, Deputy Minister, Director-General, Managing Director, and Superintendent appointed by the President under Article 56 (a) of the Constitution and a Managing Director appointed by a Board of Directors who desires to contest for public elective office shall resign said post at least two years before the date of such elections.
However, one of those confidants is Janjay Baikpeh, now former Superintendent of Grand Bassa County who has been replaced by Eddie Levi Williams pending his confirmation by the Liberian Senate.
Even his kinsmen are beginning to wonder when did Baikpah adhere to President Weah’s amendment to the CoC that all appointed officials of the government aspiring to contest elective positions in the impending October 10, 2023, Presidential and Legislative Elections must resign on or before April 7, 2023 as was done by Josephine Davies, Patience Blaye Sampson, Moses Kollie and others.
The President’s order was contained in Executive Order #117 issued Tuesday, March 14, 2023, consistent with amended Sections 5.2 and 10.2 of the 2014 Code of Conduct enacted, approved and printed in handbills on December 29, 2022.
Politicians are beginning to argue whether or not Baikpeh resigned his post in March or is he being dismissed by virtue of the President’s appointment because he still resides in the superintendent’s compound in Buchanan City.
“When did Baikpeh resign when up to now he is being referred to as Superintendent of the county officially occupying the government’s facility (office space), attending county official functions in his official vehicle and being paid tax payers money in salary and allowances,” the critics reiterated.
According to those challenging Baikpeh’s purported March resignation, they are still wondering how he was preference by the government during his recent ailment as a government official and was on several occasions notified as Superintendent or county official at government functions of which the most recent was when members of the ruling party met with chiefs in his county before his strange illness.
There are still doubts because to date nobody acted in Baikpeh’s stead as local government head in Grand Bassa County and even his office and all other amenities he still enjoys as Superintendent of the County up to yesterday’s pronouncement.
Section 5.1 of the 2014 CoC says, “All officials appointed by the President of the Republic of Liberia shall not: a) engage in political activities, canvass, or contest for elected offices; b) use government facilities, equipment, or resources in support of partisan or political activities; c) serve on a campaign team of any political party or the campaign of any independent candidate.”
The nomination which seems to be as though placing a shield around Baikpeh’s superintendent post reminds many politicians and civil servants about the Pauletta Wea cosmetic recall from public office to enable her contest in the 2017 legislative elections without appointing anyone in her place and upon her defeat, she flipped back into her position as superwoman.
It can be recalled that on March 15, 2023, Baikpeh said he would have resigned before April 7 to contest in District 2 as per the mandate of President George Weah.
According to him, he was set to obey the President’s order and told reporters at the fairgrounds in Buchanan that following his resignation, he would no longer be seen at the administrative building as Superintendent of the County.
Baikpeh assured that following his resignation, he would have focused on his election in the district by moving from house to house to ensure that he gets elected as the next lawmaker to replace Mary Kawor who by then had given him her blessing with a promise that she would not have contested for the third term.
While President Weah acknowledged that the objectives of the Code of Conduct is to dissociate the fiduciary duty of trust, integrity and loyalty owed by public officials to the people from their personal desires to contest elections at the expense of public resources.
What seems to be fallacious in the comments from Baikpeh and his boss is that by then it was seven months to the conduct of elections on October 10, 2023, yet still Baikpeh still possessed the title ‘Superintendent’ of Grand Bassa and a staunch member who was visible in all of the ruling party’s pre-campaign activates in the county; C. Winnie Saywah-Jimmy reports.
