Monrovia— The House of Representatives has voted to forgive Finance Minister Boima S. Kamara and clear him of contempt charges. This decision comes after a previous ruling that held Kamara in contempt for failing to appear before the Legislature despite multiple summons.
Initially, Minister Kamara was charged with contempt due to his alleged non-compliance with four invitations to address significant economic issues. The contempt charges carried potential penalties including a fine of L$5,000, a mandatory public apology, or imprisonment until the Legislature’s session concluded.
However, on Tuesday, July 2, the House unanimously decided to overturn their earlier decision and pardon Kamara. This change in stance followed revelations that Kamara had been critically ill and required medical treatment in Ghana during the period in question.
In a heartfelt address to the House, Kamara expressed his deep respect for the legislative body and clarified that he had no intention of disrespecting it. He explained that during three of the four summonses, he was receiving medical care in Ghana but had to interrupt his treatment to attend a World Bank meeting as part of his responsibilities.
Kamara’s apology and explanation aimed to address public and legislative concerns regarding his health. Despite earlier assertions from the Ministry of Finance that Kamara was in good health and would attend an upcoming African Development Bank Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, his condition had been a point of contention. The Ministry had previously dismissed media reports suggesting Kamara’s resignation due to health issues or dissatisfaction with his role.
The controversy surrounding Kamara marked the first instance of a cabinet minister facing such severe repercussions from the 55th Legislature since its inception in January. On June 27, the House had overwhelmingly voted to penalize Kamara for his failure to respond to a fourth summons. The issues at hand included updates on consolidated accounts, bank balances, and a loan exceeding US$9 million borrowed by the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC).
The recent resolution by the House to pardon Minister Kamara underscores the body’s recognition of the extenuating circumstances surrounding his absence and aims to restore focus on the pressing economic matters that prompted his initial summons.
