MONROVIA – The leadership of Davidetta Browne-Lansanah continues to be marred not only by an impasse but also by a growing call for President Joseph Nyumah Boakai to bar her from returning to the National Elections Commission (NEC), particularly as its chairperson.
Following her recent indefinite suspension by President Boakai, NEC employees—both dismissed and aggrieved—held a major press conference to thank the President for his decision to suspend Madam Lansanah.
According to the employees, they have endured troubling times under Lansanah’s leadership for over five years, and they believe it is time for her to exit, allowing the Commission to function peacefully, smoothly, and democratically.
Deddeh Pussah, the Director for Civic Voter Education (CVE), delivered the aggrieved employees’ statement, outlining what they described as the grave and unforgivable wrongdoings of Lansanah and her team, particularly Executive Director Anthony K. Sengbeh. They accused Sengbeh of being used by Lansanah to commit wrongdoings against employees and the institution.
Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, suspended chairperson
“Staff of the National Elections Commission express profound thanks to the President, His Excellency Joseph Nyumah Boakai, for the bold and decisive step of indefinitely suspending the chairperson, Madam Davidetta Browne-Lansanah,” Pussah stated during the press conference.
The employees claimed that news of Lansanah’s suspension brought them relief, particularly for the 25 staff members dismissed under her leadership for alleged misconduct that disrupted the Commission’s operations.
It is worth noting that a series of protests recently engulfed the NEC as employees demanded general allowances and insurance benefits. In addition to these demands, they leveled serious allegations against Lansanah, including a lack of empathy, a lack of transparency in dealings with fellow commissioners and employees, and unilateral decision-making without consulting the Board of Commissioners. The employees have called for the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to audit the NEC’s financial and logistical records.
They cited a November 2022 report from the Daily Observer, in which Lansanah was accused of a conflict of interest for awarding a contract worth over $180,000 to Tuma Enterprise, a technology company owned by her biological brothers, Arnold Badio and David Browne. The employees called for the Ombudsman’s office to investigate Lansanah and refer her to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) for prosecution for alleged wrongdoing in 2022 and other recent incidents.
The aggrieved employees accused Lansanah of authoritarian leadership, disrespect for fellow commissioners and staff, and taking unilateral decisions without consulting the six other Board members. They also accused her of traveling abroad on trips meant for directors and failing to provide reports upon her return.
“Staff were transferred to different sections without the knowledge or approval of the rest of the Commissioners,” Pussah said. She further alleged that Lansanah had chaired multiple committees—budget, cash, procurement—and single-handedly controlled all financial matters, allowing her to manipulate NEC funds at will and fabricate reports to suit her desires.
The employees also alleged financial mismanagement related to election materials in 2023, claiming Lansanah entered into a business deal with Unique Solutions, a company owned by Daniel Kolubah, to supply election materials. However, they claimed there is no evidence of the company delivering materials in the subregion. Additionally, they accused Kolubah of providing a non-functional solar system worth over $200,000 to the Commission and giving kickbacks in the form of solar systems for Lansanah and Sengbeh’s homes and businesses.
Lansanah is also accused of unilaterally merging sections of the Commission without Board approval, which the employees claim has negatively impacted NEC operations.
The aggrieved staff expressed disappointment in Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility, former Montserrado District #8 Representative Moses Acarous Gray, and other opposition politicians who condemned President Boakai’s decision to suspend Lansanah. They described Lansanah as vindictive and accused her of using reprisals to assert power over employees.
“In light of this, we appeal to the President to ensure a comprehensive audit of the NEC is commissioned as soon as possible, as outlined in the three-count resolution submitted to the office of the President on November 11, 2024,” the employees urged.
The employees also alleged that Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan and senior presidential advisor Augustine Konneh are attempting to pressure President Boakai into reinstating Lansanah as NEC chairperson. They warned that such a move would be detrimental and vowed not to cooperate with Lansanah if she were reinstated.
While The Liberian Investigator could not independently verify the allegations against officials within the Executive Branch, a source close to the Presidency disclosed that President Boakai has sufficient evidence to dismiss Lansanah. However, the source noted that taking such action now could jeopardize the administration’s chances of receiving Millennium Challenge Compact funding for development.
“The government needs funding for projects, and this might send the wrong signal. The President has already faced challenges for indefinitely suspending Liberia Telecommunications Authority Commissioners, a move the courts ruled against. Despite this, he made room for campaign supporters like Patrick Honnah. It’s a difficult situation, but Lansanah has lost respect within the NEC, and her continued presence will yield no productive outcome,” the source said.
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