Liberia Aviation Authority Boss Resigns to Contest Lofa County Senatorial Seat

 

.... The President's directive, which Kollie is adhering to, calls for all appointed government officials who intend to contest the 2023 elections to resign on or before April 7.  

The Director General of the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), Moses Kollie, has resigned from his post ahead of the October 10th elections in compliance with President George Weah's recent directive. 

Kollie, who is the National Chairman of the Liberian People's Democratic Party (LPDP) led by former Speaker Alex Tyler, is expected to run for the Senatorial Seat against incumbent Senator Steve Zargo on October 10.  He has a long history of political experience in Liberia, having served as the Representative for 12 years. During his time in the House of Representatives, he also served as the chairman of the Ways, Means, and Finance Committee.

"As of today, I have officially resigned from my position as Director General of the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority to focus on the citizens of Lofa County's call for me to represent them as Senator of our County while also ensuring the reelection of Weah, President of Liberia,” Kollie said. 

The President's directive, which Kollie is adhering to, calls for all appointed government officials who intend to contest the 2023 elections to resign on or before April 7.   According to the Executive Mansion, the President's action was in accordance with Section 5.2 of the amended 2014 Code of Conduct.

However, the Supreme Court of Liberia has temporarily halted executive order #117 pending the outcome of a writ of prohibition filed by the opposition political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL).  The purpose of the Ministry's response is to justify why the opposition party's request should not be approved.

The EFFL had requested the Court to prevent the government from enforcing the President's order, claiming that it violates the 2014 Code of Conduct (CoC) and its amended version in 2022.

The writ argued that the presidential decision is against the meaning of the Code of Conduct Act since the law is being implemented only a few months before the October 10 elections instead of the required one-year notice."

Section 5.2 of the amended law reduces the resignation period for officials from a maximum of three years to just one year.

The President however acknowledged the one-year resignation clause but pointed out that with only seven months left until the elections, the amended Act cannot prevent public officials from participating in the October 10 election.

Nevertheless, the President asserted that the executive order was necessary to establish a fair political playing field, citing his compelling interest. Consequently, presidential appointees are now mandated to resign six months before the country's elections.

Kollie, who previously served as Minister of Labour, was appointed by the President as Director General of LCAA following the resignation of Atty. James Emmanuel Nuquay now Senator of Margibi County in 2020.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information.

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