–— As Members Vote for Unanimous Contempt Charges
IPNEWS: Ture to Wednesday, May 29,2024 report by the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper that Commerce Minister Amin Modad was headed for a contempt charge by members of the House of Representative for failing to appear before it, sources within the corridors of the Legislature tell IPNEWS that members of the August body are poised for a vote of ‘No Confidence’ of Commerce Minister Amin Modad during their session next Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
Some of the sources told IPNEWS that lawmakers are daring to inflect this heavy magnitude on the commerce minister to send out a clear message to others wanting to disrespect that August body.
On Thursday, May 30,2024, members of the House of Representatives issued a contempt charge against Commerce Minister Mr. Amin Modad for failing to appear before the plenary on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
Members of the House begin very flurious after Minister Amin Modad refused to showup after a summons was issued for him to appear to provide clarification on the recent rice hike in the country but failed to appear.
But on Thursday, 30 May 2024, Minister Modad came under serious tension from members of the House of Representatives when he finally appear before that August body.
Members of the House of Representatives accused Minister Modad of lying to them about his inability to appear before that body because of travel reasons, however, Minister Modad was later seen on social media at another function in the county at the same time that he claimed he was traveling. Modad later told lawmakers that his trip had been canceled.
The lawmakers said they saw the Minister’s action as disrespectful, and they want him to appear next Tuesday with his lawyer to explain why he should not be held in contempt.
The plenary’s decision to summon Minister Modad followed a communication from Montserrado County Electoral District #9 Representative Frank Saah Foko and Grand Bassa County Representative Matthew Joe expressing concerns over the rice price hike.
It may be recalled, on Monday, 20 May 2024, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that the government and rice importers agreed to raise the price of a bag of rice from $16.50 to $18.50. That decision was later changed when President Joseph Nyumah Boakai met with rice importers, ordering them to return the price of rice to $16.50.
Based on the importance of the communications from both lawmakers, the House plenary instructed the Clerk, Madam Mildred Sayon, to invite Minister Modad to provide clarity on the matter formally.
Speaking to a team of reporters after he was issued a contempt charge, Minister Modad expressed disappointment over the House of Representatives’ decision not to discharge him under the contempt charge.
The House of Representatives’ determination to hold Minister Modad accountable reflects a critical confrontation between the legislative and executive branches amidst public concern over rising commodity prices.
As the country grapples with economic challenges, Minister Modad’s actions have not gone unnoticed, stirring anger among lawmakers and citizens alike.
