Will the 55th Legislature approve President Joseph Boakai’s acquisition of 285 road construction equipment, or will they not?
This pertinent question highlights the twin dilemma now facing the 103 members of the 55th Legislature since it has become clear that the acquisition of the equipment, with 32 or so pieces representing the first batch now in the country, is taking place under some dubious circumstances. The rejection of the equipment deal, therefore, would, in essence, demonstrate the legislature’s commitment to the rule of law and good governance since the President, in a July 9 letter to the legislature, indirectly admitted to violating the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) Act.
By Robin Dopoe, Contributing Writer
Such a legislative decision would resonate with a considerable number of the population who believe that adherence to the law is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy. The manner and form in which the government has initiated the negotiations for the equipment — bypassing the PPCC Act — gives the legislature ample reason to reject the deal when the president submits it.
The PPCC Act was enacted to promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the government procurement process; as a result, the law mandates that transactions above US$1 million go through a public procurement tendering process. Sadly, none of the 32 or so pieces of road construction equipment brought into the country so far, nor the rest that are on their way, went through the public procurement tendering process.
Thus, the legislature rejecting the deal would be a stand for accountability and integrity in public office while bolstering its credibility as a guardian of the law. It would reinforce the message that no individual or administration is above the law; as such, all well-meaning projects must conform to legal standards to safeguard public resources from misuse and corruption and to uphold democratic norms.
Such decisions would also politically save the country by not setting a dangerous executive precedent that would embolden future flouting of legal requirements with impunity. The erosion of the rule of law now or in the future could have long-term consequences, weakening the institutional frameworks essential for good democratic governance.
The truth is, the PPCC Act needs to be saved now by the legislature, or it will become redundant and fuel the administrative understanding that expediency can trump legality and that developmental gains can undermine long-term governance standards. Upholding the rule of law is essential for building a stable, predictable, and fair society.
However, the legislature faces significant political risk if it moves ahead to reject the deal, as they would be seen by the Liberian people as obstructive and indifferent to their development needs; thus diminishing the legislature’s already low approval rating.
While Liberians are aware that the President’s actions flout the law, they strongly believe that the equipment’s potential impact justifies the means, especially since the means involve circumventing what might be seen as cumbersome bureaucratic processes. The dire state of Liberia’s roads has hindered economic growth and access to education and healthcare for more than a century and a half.
Therefore, President Boakai’s acquisition of the 285 pieces of road equipment presents a tangible solution to a pervasive problem that has plagued the country since its independence in 1847.This is why the equipment acquisition, for more Liberians, brings about a picture of increased county-to-county trade, reduced transportation costs, bustling markets, accessible schools, healthcare centers, and thriving communities, even if it is done in violation of the law, which they deem worth the risk.
The President’s action has therefore placed the Legislature
in a twin dilemma of complex interplay to choose between the immediate benefits of infrastructural development and the long-term imperatives of legal integrity and good governance. Each side of the dilemma carries significant repercussions that extend beyond the immediate decision.
Uncle Joe, as the President is affectionately called, is politically at work nearly seven months into his administration — demonstrating his 40 plus years in government.
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