THE CHAIRPERSON OF the National Elections Commission (NEC), Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, stands accused of making a string of allegations against the George M. Weah administration at a time the Chairperson is struggling with integrity issues and financial malpractices, as the LACC some time ago indicted her for conflict of interest and insider trading, with a number of civil society groups calling for her resignation or dismissal in order for her to face prosecution to clear her name.
THE LACC INVESTIGATION found Browne-Lansanah blameworthy for acts ranging from conflict of interest, corruption to insider trading and market manipulation, with subsequent indictment for her prosecution to be drawn soon.
IN EARLY NOVEMBER 2021, it was reported that officials of the National Elections Commission (NEC) rented thermometers at the cost of more than US$180,000 for use during the by-elections, and that there were conflict of interest in the award of the contract to Tuma Enterprises, as they did not follow procurement regulations and did not regard the value for money. According to the LACC, these allegations formed the basis for the commencement of investigation into the matter.
THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRPERSON of the LACC, Cllr. Edwin Kla Martins, noted the LACC investigation found that Cllr. Browne-Lansanah did not disclose her interest in Tuma Enterprises while presiding over the Procurement Committee of the NEC.
THE NEC BOSS was found liable of Section 1.3.6 (Conflict of Interest) of the National Code of Conduct for all Public Officials and Employees of the Government of Liberia (GOL); Part II, Section 2.2 of the Act establishing the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, which describes insider trading as an act of corruption; and also in violation of section 15.3 (predicate offenses for money laundering under section 15.2 of the Money Laundering Act of 2012), which prohibits insider trading and market manipulation.
THE EMBATTLED NEC Chairperson, however, has taken what critics call an about-face in dealing with the integrity issue at hand. In an interview with the International Justice Group (IJG) recently, Browne-Lansanah accused President Weah of sending Minister McGill to her to do a staff shake-up to make way for CDC die-hard partisans in key, strategic NEC positions and, in return, her pending court case would fade away; otherwise, she can expect to find herself in court in less than two weeks.
BROWNE-LANSANAH SAID she categorically rejected the deal and told McGill that she will neither compromise the electoral process in Liberia nor compromise her integrity for personal benefit. She further stated that no member of her staff has been errant to warrant termination, and that she would not oblige. According to her, if McGill and Weah desire to make such unwarranted changes at the NEC, they should go ahead and do it themselves.