Weah prays for unconfirmed nominees

President George Manneh Weah says he prays that all goes well for those of his cabinet nominees who have not yet been confirmed by the Liberian Senate.

“…Members of the cabinet, good afternoon and good to see y’all; those who all have been confirmed already, congratulations. And to those that are waiting [for] confirmation I pray that all goes well,” Mr. Weah said Wednesday afternoon, 28 February at the commencement of his first cabinet meeting in Monrovia.

Among cabinet members attending the first meeting under the Weah – led administration was embattled Health Minister – designate Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah whose nomination by the president has been greeted by a long public protest over the death of the late Pastor Desiree Fahnbulleh at the nominee’s private hospital.

She faces pressure over the alleged ‘wrongful death’ of Desiree Fahnbulleh at the privately run Hope for Women Hospital during childbirth. The nominee has claimed innocence on grounds that she was not in the country when the victim died, but the victim’s husband, widower Larry Fahnbulleh is said to be leading a family protest that stands against Dr. Jallah’s appointment by Mr. Weah.

A legal battle between the victim’s family and Madam Jallah’s hospital is yet to come to a close, but Madam Jallah became Mr. Weah’s nominee for the post of Minister at the Ministry of Health upon taking oath of office in January.

With her confirmation still lingering at the Senate, it remains a wonder how she surfaced at the first Cabinet meeting with the portfolio “The Honorable Minister, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Republic of Liberia” well printed and placed before her on a long table shared by the Cabinet members who graced the meeting.