REPORTS FROM MONROVIA and news feeds on the various Executive Mansion media platforms of the government of President George M. Weah convey that current Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musu Dean has been nominated as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia.
REPORTS SAY THE NOMINATION by President Weah is in response to the resignation of Associate Justice Cllr. Joseph N. Nagbe who is unable to end his term due to undisclosed medical reasons. Cllr. Frank Musa Dean is a very controversial figure within the current administration who is believed by some members of the ruling party to be in cohorts with the opposition, now incoming Unity Party, and also have been an informant of the United States (US) to undermine the Weah administration.
SOME STALWARTS of the outgoing Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) have leveled strong accusations against Cllr. Dean over the last two years for supporting the opposition. Outgoing veteran lawmaker Representative Hon Acarous Moses Gray, U.S. sanctioned Moveria City Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee, and U.S. sanctioned former Solicitor General of Liberia Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus are few in line with bitter political brawl with Cllr. Dean. Cllr. Cephus directly hold Cllr. Dean responsible for misleading information provided the U.S. embassy near Monrovia that led to him being targeted for sanctions.
IT IS NOT CLEAR if President Weah’s decision to nominate Cllr. Dean is in consonance with his CDC party officials who have strongly opposed his earlier decision to concede the just concluded highly competitive presidential elections that saw him lose with just over 20,000 votes (<2%). Political commentators and pundits will be observing to see what the reaction of stalwarts of the CDC and its political base will be to the President’s decision. It is also unclear if Cllr. Dean nomination will be welcomed by the incoming administration of president elect Joseph N. Boakai, or whether he will get the endorsement of the incoming 55th Legislature. In keeping with the Constitution, political appointees must be confirmed by the House of Senate.
MEANWHILE, not much is known about the health of His Honor, Cllr. Joseph N. Nagbe who resigned due to medical reasons. Already, the nation is mourning the death of Commissioner General Thomas Doe Nah, who died few days ago while on a three-month medical leave in India. Full details on the cause of death is still pending.
Dr. Clarence R. Pearson, Sr. is a Liberian clergy and social scientist with strong interest in advancing global peace, human rights, a safe planet, and social equity. He holds a BA in Theology, and MA with distinction from the Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation, University of Liberia. He also graduated with honor from the Louisiana Baptist University and Seminary, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA with A PhD in Psychology and Counseling. Dr. Pearson is a social researcher, an educator, and an author. He has over 29 years of practical professional experience in post-conflict peace-building, recovery, and development with emphasis in both the public and private sector.