Liberia: Watchdog Urges Legislature Against Overriding Weah’s Veto on Fouani Brothers’ Bill
… Vows to Expose Lawmakers who will override the President’s veto
Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL) has called on the Legislature to refrain from overriding President George M. Weah’s veto on the Investment Incentives Agreement between the Government of Liberia and Fouani Brothers Corporation.
IWL, a non-profit organization focused on promoting transparency and accountability, expressed concerns over certain members of the 54th Legislature allegedly being influenced to override the veto.
“Integrity Watch Liberia expresses profound concern over actions by certain members of the 54th Legislature who appear to have allowed themselves to be influenced to override a veto by the outgoing President, Weah, on the Investment Incentives Agreement between the Government of Liberia and Fouani Brothers Corporation,” Harold M. Aidoo, Senior Executive Director, Integrity Watch Liberia told newsmen on Monday in Monrovia.
Aidoo said an investigation conducted by his organization has uncovered significant inconsistencies in the agreement’s language, structure, and objective.
Notable among these is the omission of section 10.6 (a) and the granting of duty-free privileges to import vegetable oil through section 10.1 (c) raised concerns, particularly regarding the impact on local palm oil production. This was flagged in a motion raised by then Representative Francis S. Dopoh on October 23, 2023, which unfortunately faced defeat. Dopoh is now a Senator of River Gee County.
“Integrity Watch Liberia underscores that the current state of the Investment Incentive Agreement favors Fouani Brothers Corporation, jeopardizing local industries, competitiveness, and fostering a monopoly detrimental to Liberians,” Aidoo said.
Reports indicated months ago that President Weah had previously vetoed the Founai Brothers Bill because of an omitted page containing vital information.
The bill aimed to ratify the Investment Incentive Agreement and facilitate the development, construction, and operation of a refinery by Fouani Brothers for the production of edible vegetable oil. Since the President's veto, there has been blame-shifting within the Legislature, with some lawmakers allegedly refusing to take responsibility for the grounds on which the bill was vetoed.
Aidoo, however, emphasized that the current state of the agreement favors Fouani Brothers Corporation and could potentially harm local industries, and competitiveness, and foster a detrimental monopoly.
IWL believes that any push to nullify the President's veto may lead to the exposure of individual lawmakers involved in the Founi Investment deal.
The organization calls for transparency and accountability in the Legislature, urging lawmakers to work together to promote a culture of openness, and integrity, and safeguard against corruption and undue influence.
They emphasize the importance of upholding democratic principles, strengthening governance standards, and advancing the well-being of the Liberian people.
“IWL firmly believes that the decision to override the outgoing president's veto should rest with the 55th Legislature and the incoming administration. We want to call for a transparent and accountable Legislature, urging lawmakers to collaborate in fostering an environment marked by openness and integrity, safeguarding against corruption and undue influence. Together, let us uphold democratic principles, strengthen governance standards, and advance the collective well-being of the Liberian people,” Aidoo said.
President Weah vetoed the Fouani Brothers Bill sent to his office by the Liberian Senate. The bill sought to rectify the government’s proposed agreement with the company.
The bill, entitled, “An Act to Ratify the Investment Incentive Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Liberia and Fouani Brothers Corporation”, was first vetoed by President Weah last August 2020 because a page containing important information was omitted, according to an investigation.
The bill was first submitted to the House of Representatives in 2020 by the Executive Branch. It called for the development, construction, and operation of a refinery by Foauni Brothers, which is expected to process approximately 13,000 metric tons of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) per month for the production of edible vegetable oil and the derivatives from such oil palm.
Since the President’s veto action, there has been a plethora of blame-shifting coming from the Legislature, refusing to take responsibility for the grounds on which the President vetoed the bill. In a three-page letter to the Liberian Senate, the President identified structural and technical oversights in the legal instrument. He also acknowledged the need for the bill to tarry for the incoming administration of President-elect Joseph Boakai and the 55th National Legislature that will be assuming national leadership by the end of January 2024, having won the just-ended presidential and legislative elections.