Armah Jallah Becomes New Pro-Temp

The long-awaited election for the position of President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate came to an end Thursday, with the election of Gbarpolu County Senator Armah Jallah. Senator Jallah defeated his main opposition- Senator Joseph N. Nagbe of Sinoe County 13 to 11 votes in a process witnessed by some members of the House of Representatives, as well as former officials, among others. Senator Oscar Cooper of Margibi County scored three of the 27 votes.

Senator Nagbe, who, many believed, was strongly supported by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, could not convince his colleagues enough for the senate’s highest post.

The defeat, described as very shocking for the Sinoe County Senator who had anticipated over-whelming victory, ended with twenty seven senators voted out of the thirty Senators.

The President Pro Tempore election, closely monitored by observers from the National Elections Commission or NEC, some members of the House of Representatives and the Chief Protocol of Liberia, Ambassador Rufus Neufville, was presided-over by  the President of the Liberian Senate, Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai.

Speaking to reporters immediately following his election,  the new President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate- also of the National Patriotic Party or NPP, promised team work with his colleagues in transforming the senate.

Senator Armah Jallah of Gbarpolu County added that election was gone, and it was time to work for the Liberian people, emphasizing that the work of the country can only be achieved actively with the ideas and inputs of all senators.

Prior to his election as Senator of Gbapolu County for the second time, Sen. Jallah served as Junior Economist at the International Trust Company; he also served as Contractor with the Lutheran World Service – Liberia and Executive Director for the RUFA Trade.

Sen. Jallah also served as Chairman, Board of Directors of the Japanese-Liberian Friendship Association. From 1998 to 2003, he served his people as Senator of Lofa County when Gbapolu was yet to obtain a County status.

Sen. Jallah holds an Associate degree in Economic, and BSC in Economics and Demography, both from the AME Zion University College, LLB in Law from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia, Post graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law (March 2003) from the Danish Institute of Human Rights in Copenhagen, Denmark. He also holds Master’s degree in International Law and Economics (2003) from the World Trade Institute in Bern, Switzerland.

He is currently the largest private investor in Gbarpolu County, constructing a 25 bed room guest house in Bopolu City, a major petro filling stations in Bomi and Gbarpolu counties.

He contested the By-election in 2007 on petition from some Gbarpolu county citizens, but lost to the Unity Party candidate-Theodore Mombo.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor & Ben P. Wesee