Monrovia — Representative Emmanuel Dahn, Co-Chair of the House's specialized committee investigating the alterations of the 2024 National Budget, has identified Comics Chea, Deputy Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, as a key figure in the unauthorized changes. Dahn's statement follows the committee's report to the House of Representatives' Plenary, which revealed the alterations and recommended punitive actions against those involved.
"It can be recalled that our committee, in its report to the Plenary, discovered unauthorized alterations in the 2024 National Budget. We recommended appropriate punitive actions against the individuals implicated," Dahn said. However, despite the committee's recommendations, the House has yet to take decisive action.
Dahn, who also serves as the Montserrado County District #7 Representative, recounted that on May 7, Deputy Chief Clerk Chea recalled the 2024 Budget from the Executive branch after it had already been passed. "When we asked Deputy Chief Clerk Chea who authorized the recall, he claimed he was unaware of the authorizing party and that he merely found the document on his desk," Dahn explained.
The committee initially granted Chea additional time to clarify, but in subsequent questioning, Chea alleged that he had received a call from Senate Secretary Narborlor Singbe, instructing him to recall the budget. "The committee discovered unauthorized alterations in the budget, and we are waiting for the House to act on our recommendations," Dahn said.
Dahn emphasized that since Chea was elected by the members of the House, any decision regarding disciplinary action must be collectively made by the entire Plenary. He also refuted claims that the House leadership interfered with the committee's investigation.
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Meanwhile, Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence has initiated a separate investigation into the alleged budget alterations. The Senate's investigative team includes Grand Cape County Senator Daba Varpilah as Chairperson, alongside Senators Thomas Yaya Nimely (Grand Gedeh), Numene Bartekwa (Grand Kru), Augustine Chea (Sinoe), and James Biney (Maryland).
In a related development, Representative Dahn announced plans to allocate a significant portion of the USD45,000 earmarked for lawmakers' vehicles toward the construction of boreholes for safe drinking water in his district. "Many residents in parts of Montserrado County District #7 are in desperate need of clean drinking water, and I have decided to redirect a majority of the funds to address this urgent need," Dahn said.
