Transitional Foreign Service Officers’ Status, Benefits Spark Investigation

The House of Representatives has requested its Foreign Affairs Committee to liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to maintain the services of Transitional Foreign Service Officers and ensure payment of their benefits. A release issued by the House’ Press Bureau on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, followed a report from its Foreign Affairs Committee. The committee was mandated to investigate within a period of two weeks, the allegation made by Montserrado County District 10 Representative, Yekeh Kolubah, on the denial of diplomatic amenities to Foreign Service Officers by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It can be recalled that on June 12, 2024, the Plenary of the 55th Legislature received a letter from Representative Kolubah, informing it that some Foreign Service Officers, who were appointed and commissioned by former President George Manneh Weah and Amb. Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah Sr, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, already in active service at their respective assignments from October 2023 to January 2024 were denied by some Ambassadors and Head of Missions. He added that some of the Foreign Service Officers- FSOs passports were seized at the various embassies and have not been paid for four- 4 months. The Montserrado County Lawmaker further indicated in his communication, Abidjan, Abu Dhabi, Abuja, Accra, Addis Ababa, Beijing, London and Paris, as Liberia Foreign Missions affected. However, the committee lauded the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for aiding it with the necessary documents requested to substantiate the allegation. The committee said it established that during the period of transition from previous Administration to January 2024, a total of 62 persons were issued letter of appointments, especially around July 2023, the period which accordingly, the Ministry experienced irregular and alarming posting into the Liberia Foreign Service. Meanwhile, the plenary of the House of Representatives requested its committee and the Foreign Ministry to remedy the situation.