By: Jerromie S. Walters
Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Liberia: The House of Representatives has mandated its committee on Gender, Judiciary, and Ways, Means, and Finance to look into the financing agreement of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project between the Republic of Liberia and the International Development Association.
At the 3rd day sitting of the first quarter of the 6th session of the 54th National Legislature of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, lawmakers overwhelmingly voted for the various committees of the lower house to critically critique the agreement and report to plenary in a period of two weeks.
The House’s mandate comes, following a communication from the Office of the President, submitting for the ratification by the Legislature of the financing agreement of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project.
According to the communication read during plenary, the president alluded to the fact that under the agreement, the association agrees to extend a grant and credit to Liberia.
He further noted that the agreement is deemed to be concessional financing in the following amounts: (a) an amount equivalent to Thirteen Million Three Hundred Thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 13,300,000 as Grant); and (b) an amount equivalent to Twenty Million Special Drawing Rights (SDR 20,000,000 as Credit).
Furthermore, the President’s communication disclosed that the objectives of the project are to improve social and livelihood services for women and girls in targeted communities, foster positive social norms, and strengthen the government’s capacity to advance women’s and girls’ empowerment.
The agreement was signed on July 4, 2022, between the International Development Association and the Republic of Liberia.
Howbeit, the president is anticipating that the legislature will ratify the agreement to help strengthen Liberia’s capacity to advance women’s and girls’ empowerment.
At the same time, the House has mandated its committee on the judiciary to look into the status of the 2022 Elections Reform Law that was passed by the Lower House, concurred by the Honorable Liberian Senate, and forwarded to the President of the Republic of Liberia for approval and advice plenary in a period of one week.
The House mandate comes following a communication from Montserrado County District #11 Representative Richard Nagbe Koon, seeking clarity from the leadership of the august body on the status of the 2022 Elections Reform Law that was passed by the Lower House, affirmed by the Honorable Liberian Senate, and forwarded to the President of the Republic of Liberia for approval.
The District #11 Lawmaker recalled that the Honorable House of Representatives did pass the Election Reform Law on September 13, 2022, at 4:38 PM, and forwarded same to the Liberian Senate for concurrence.
“Upon receipt of the bill by the Senate on September 16, 2022, a joint conference committee of both houses was set up to review the amended law, and after several deliberations, the Senate concurred with the House of Representatives and this instrument was forwarded to the President of the Republic of Liberia on October 25, 2022, at about 2:35 p.m. for approval.”
He mentioned that it’s been nearly three months now since this instrument was submitted to the president’s office for approval, and it has not been signed and published as a handbill by the executive.
“Fellow colleagues, Article 35 of the 1986 Constitution states: “Each bill or resolution that shall have passed both houses of the legislature before it becomes law shall be laid before the President for his approval.” If he grants approval, it shall become law. If the President does not approve such a bill or resolution, he shall “return it, with his objections, to the House from which it originated,” he quoted.
