By H. Matthew Turry
The House of Representatives Thursday cast a vote of no confidence in Ambassador Sheikh Al Moustapha Kouyateh, asking President Joseph Boakai to dismiss him for claims he made regarding corrupt practices influencing mineral concessions in Liberia.
Kouyateh accused lawmakers of compromising mineral deals in favor of Europeans and other western multinational corporations. He had previously registered apologies for his outburst but later walked back, claiming he did at the behest of the President.
The decision, carried by 36 members during plenary session could render he diplomat ineffective should the President endorse the resolution.
“This motion is necessitated by the conduct of Ambassador Kouyateh, who publicly made grave allegations against the National Legislature,” Sinoe County District #1 Representative Romeo Quioh said.
Lawmakers argued that Kouyateh’s remarks undermined the credibility of the Legislature and his refusal to retract demonstrated contempt for the authority of the House. Representative Clarence Banks of Grand Bassa County District #2 had earlier petitioned Plenary to take decisive action after Kouyateh failed to comply with the House’s directive.
According to Rep. Quioh, Kouyateh initially appeared before Plenary, acknowledged the impropriety of his remarks, and tendered an apology. However, lawmakers insisted that he repeat the apology through the same public platforms where his accusations were broadcast. Instead, Kouyateh returned to OK FM and doubled down, unleashing fresh disparaging remarks against the Legislature.
“This Honorable Body cannot remain silent when its institutional integrity is subjected to repeated attacks by a public official who has failed to substantiate his allegations,” Quioh said.
“His actions constitute blatant disregard for the authority and dignity of the National Legislature and are unbecoming of a senior public official.”
The resolution, adopted with resounding support, recommends that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai be formally notified of the Legislature’s unwillingness to work with Kouyateh in any official capacity.
Lawmakers urged the President to take “appropriate administrative action” to preserve cordial relations between the Executive and Legislative branches. Copies of the resolution are to be transmitted to the Office of the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other
The Liberian lawmakers are often accused and documented for acts of official corruption. in 2009, the General Audiiing Commission reported a bribery scandal that undermined offshore oil conracts, while the United States gpovernmen has sanctioned some members for alleged corrupt practices.
In December 2023, Senator Albert Chie, and Emmanuel Nuquay were sanctioned for their involvement in what Washington called significant corruption by abusing their public positions through soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes to manipulate legislative processes and public funding, including legislative reporting and mining sector activity. They have repeatedly denied the charges.
In late 2020 the US government placed sanctions on Grand Cape Mount County former senator, Cllr. Varney Sherman for his role in the Sable mining case in which it was alleged that he bribes multiple judges in the case.
The treasury Department alleged Sherman offered bribes to multiple judges associated with his trial for a 2010 bribery scheme, and he had an undisclosed conflict of interest with the judge who ultimately returned a not guilty verdict in July 2019. Sherman has routinely paid judges to decide cases in his favor, and he has allegedly facilitated payments to Liberian politicians to support impeachment of a judge who has ruled against him.
In the 2010 scheme that led to this trial, Sherman was hired by a British mining company in an effort to obtain one of Liberia’s last remaining mining assets, the Wologizi iron ore concession. Sherman advised the company that, in order to obtain the contract, they first had to get Liberia’s procurement and concessions law changed by bribing senior officials. In 2016, Sherman was indicted by the Liberian government, along with several other government officials (including ex-speaker Alex Tyler now Bomi County Senator, for their involvement in the USD 950,000 bribery scheme. In 2019, the presiding judge acquitted all individuals accused of being involved in the bribery scheme.
