THE INTEGRITY INSTITUTION, National Elections Commission (NEC), is hit with the institutional menace, corruption. 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 was conflict of interest in the award of the contract to Tuma Enterprises, as they did not follow the regulations of Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC). The NEC is the nerve center of democracy in the country, and in order to conduct free, fair and transparent elections it must have the public esteem of integrity. The corruption allegation at the election body threatens that.
ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021 the LACC found the Chairperson of the NEC, Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, 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. Accordingly, the LACC announced that an indictment will soon be drawn for the NEC boss for court prosecution.
OBSERVERS OF THE Browne-Lansanah NEC scenario are saying that the NEC Chairperson is caught in a situation that requires her resignation or the risk of embarrassment: dismissal, as it appears legally inappropriate for her to continue serving that integrity position while facing corruption prosecution in court.
HENCE, CALLS ARE pouring in for Browne-Lansanah to do the honorable thing: resign her position until she clears her name in a court of competent jurisdiction. Callers on many talk shows are expressing their dismay in the compromising action of the NEC boss.
THE NEC CHAIRPERSON appears to have, herself, sealed her fate. “During the investigation, Madame Davidetta Browne Lansanah admitted and confirmed to the investigation that Mr. David Brown, Vice President for Operations of Tuma Enterprises, is her brother from the same father, while Arnold Badio, owner and incorporator of Tuma Enterprise Inc., is a brother to David Browne from the same mother,” the LACC boss disclosed. Hence, many in the public are requesting that President George M. Weah dismisses her with immediate action.