Monrovia – The Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), a political party in Liberia, has criticized news circulating on social media about the suspension of its Political Leader, Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah.
On Thursday, June 6, local media reported that the MOVEE National Executive Committee had removed Ambassador Kemayah as its Political Leader for misapplication of funds intended for party operations and programs, suspension and expulsion of key party members without respect for the bylaws and constitution, among other reasons.
According to the media reports, this decision was in line with Article 19, Section 5(a) of the 2016 bylaws and constitution, which states that a simple majority of National Executive Committee (NEC) members is legally sufficient to make binding decisions for the party. The NEC has unanimously taken disciplinary actions against executives and members who have violated the party’s bylaws and constitution.
The National Executive Committee is the highest decision-making body within the party, apart from the convention.
The reports also stated that Kemayah was endorsed as political leader on September 22, 2022, at an emergency National Convention, which had allegedly expired. A group called “Majority National Executive Committee Members” made this statement during a press conference in Paynesville on Tuesday, June 4. The statement was read by one Matthew Shan, who claimed the National Chairmanship of MOVEE.
However, MOVEE Acting Chairman Prince Mehn clarified in an inquiry from FrontPageAfrica on Thursday, June 6, via telephone, that the information is fake and spread by “envious minds of defeated and confused individuals” who have been expelled and suspended from MOVEE for gross violations of the party’s constitution.
Mehn stated that the removal of the Chairman is a decision of the National Executive Committee, and no NEC member has endorsed the said decision. According to him, MOVEE held a convention in 2023, electing a new corps of leaders, including Amb. Kemayah as Political Leader, whose tenure runs until 2029. He emphasized that the NEC can make such decisions for probable cause, but no member has done so in this case.
Mehn asserted that the information circulating on social media and other platforms about Ambassador Kemayah’s removal is a “sinister and clever tactic to gain popularity at his expense.”
“The information is a blatant lie. Ambassador Kemayah continues to enjoy the confidence of MOVEE, and we do not intend to remove him through unconstitutional means,” Mehn stressed. “That has never happened and will never happen. The party is strong, and our Leader, Ambassador Kemayah, has had a series of meetings with national leaders and coordinators of Montserrado County in the past weeks. MOVEE is moving forward, despite the fake information and pointless propaganda.”
Mehn noted that those spreading this false information do not want to conform to discipline. He described MOVEE as a party that values discipline and cannot unduly remove Kemayah, who continues to support the party in all aspects. He accused “greedy politicians” of trying to destroy the party.
Mehn emphasized that the MOVEE Executive will not allow the party to be destroyed and advised that the information should not be considered substantial, as it is spread by those intending to tear the party apart.
Additionally, MOVEE National Youth Wing Chair Winston noted that Kemayah still enjoyed the confidence of the party’s National Executive Committee, and the information was untrue. “That information is from the belly of the devil, and there is no truth to it. No one should take it seriously,” Gaye berated.
Gaye further noted that at the time of the FrontPageAfrica inquiry, the full executive committee members were at MOVEE headquarters holding meetings for the further progress of the party, contrary to the information about Kemayah’s removal.
Meanwhile, FrontPageAfrica’s visit to MOVEE Headquarters on Thursday afternoon confirmed that normal operations were ongoing. Some county executives seen at the party’s headquarters noted that no decision had been made by the National Executive Committee. They added that those spreading falsehoods are expelled members of the party who intend to break MOVEE apart.
Discussion about this post