The National Civil Society Council of Liberia is seriously concern with the confirmation of Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., former Head of Mission, Liberia Permanent Mission to the United Nations and Minister Designate for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who was officially accused of Sexual Harassment.
In a release issued recently the group said it is highly ‘regrettable’, that in the absence of due process, which it believed could have been obtain via the establishment of Independent Investigative Committee by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Mr. Kemayah was being confirmed.
According to the council independent probes and its accompanying reports should have verified and provided further substantiated evidences to determine the truth or falsehood of the alleged sexual harassment complaint brought forth by Madam Wynee Cummings.
It further added that the absence of these probes undermined the integrity of the confirmation, and further worsen Liberian global image.
National Civil Society of Liberia release further disclosed that it has been deeply involved with this matter from the on-set.
On the 14th September 2020, Madam Wynee Cummings, Staff, Liberia Permanent Mission to the UN officially complaint Amb. Kemayah to the Council, and further shared copies of other complaints written to Amb. Kemayah, response note from Amb. Kemayah’s legal representative, and to the Government of Liberia.
In keeping with the Council’s neutral engagement strategy, the Council did write to Madam Cummings, Amb. Kemayah and the Liberian Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Such involvement by the NCSCL was intended to ensure that all parties are given due process and the matter sufficiently resolved before continuation of the confirmation process.
The NCSCL also made several recommendations both with the Senate, calling on the Senate to make full disclosure of the procedure and outcomes of the special investigative committee and to publish its findings in order to proceed with the confirmation of the appointee.
NCSCL chairperson Loretta Alethea Pope Kai said rather hasty confirmation of Amb Kemayah without the sufficient adjudication of the matter cast a dent on the image of the National Legislature and the entire country, especially our President who regarded himself as the feminist in Chief.
“This is indeed regrettable and we condemn this action by the Senate in no uncertain terms. We call for justice for all parties and hope that everything will be done to resolve this issue so that all parties interest can be fairly served”, a release signed by Mrs. Pope Kai added
