House Holds Finance Minister In Contempt Over Flimsy Excuses; Mandates Him To Appear With His Lawyers

The House of Representatives has cited the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Boimah Kamara, under contempt charge for his repeated refusal to comply with three separate citations from the legislative body.

   The House has invoked its Contempt Power, as outlined in Rule Four, which defines contempt as any action that obstructs the legislative function or hinders the duties of its members and officers. The punishment for contempt can include a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to one month, or for the duration of the current session of the House. The decisions made in contempt cases are not subject to appeal.

   Minister Kamara, along with officials from the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), had been invited to provide financial updates on consolidated accounts, bank balances and validate reports from the Liberia Revenue Authority on revenue collection.

   While all other parties have cooperated, the Ministry of Finance’s refusal to appear has been deemed contemptuous, leading to a request for another appearance on Thursday, June 27, 2024, and he is expected to be accompanied by his legal counsel.