–As He Risks Imprisonment, Fine Or Vote Of No Confidence
The House of Representatives, during its Thursday, June 27, 2024 session, voted for a contempt charge on the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Boima Kamara, for vehemently refusing to heed the call of the lawmakers in four invitations, vowing to institute punitive action against the minister today, Tuesday, July 2, 2024.
On Thursday, June 28, 2024, the House invited Minister Kamara, along with his lawyer, to provide evidence to justify why he should not be held in contempt for impeding the work of the legislative body, but, for the fourth time, he refused to show up, which the legislative body termed as disrespectful, thereby charging him with contempt.
During Thursday’s session, the House invoked its contempt power as outlined in rule four, citing actions that obstruct legislative function as grounds for contempt.
According to the House’s rules and procedures, the Finance Minister’s failure to appear for the fourth time triggered his punishment for contempt, which can include a fine of up to L$5,000 or imprisonment for up to one month, or the duration of the current session of the House, or a vote of no confidence. Consequently, the decisions made in contempt cases are not subject to appeal.
Making the decision on the Finance Minister, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, said, “The Minister of Finance was notified to come with his lawyer under a contempt charge. His absence without valid excuse to be accepted by this body will constitute a waiver of any and all defenses; therefore, this body is about to vote on a contempt of the Minister of Finance and to require that he appear Tuesday of next week for sentencing…”
According to Speaker Koffa, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation is in country doing an assessment as to whether or not they will proceed with the Extended Credit Facility, and that they will make a judgment by September 2024. “They came here with specific schedules; they didn’t come here to see the Minister of Finance. They are meeting with the Central Bank; they are meeting with the Executive. They met with me for two hours yesterday, and some of the reasons we call this Minister of Finance here today is to address some of the very concerns they made,” Speaker Koffa stated.
He said one of the reasons the finance minister was called was the exact issue that the IMF was concerned about, which is the illegal taking of loans by governments. “One of the reasons he was called for was that issue. The fact that he chose not to appear on two occasions citing the IMF in the eyes of plenary was no excuse,” Speaker Koffa indicated.
One of the lawmakers recommended that plenary declares a vote of no confidence in Minister Kamara for the gross insubordination shown the National Legislature. However, Speaker Koffa explained that, under the contempt charge, the minister could be fined $5,000, be jailed or a vote of no confidence be cast against him, but referred the judgment to Tuesday, at which time the minister will be present.
Holding all things constant, it is expected that Minister Kamara will appear before the plenary of the House of Representatives to face the wrath of the body.