MONROVIA – Has President Weah forgotten so soon that he participated in ceremonies marking the official retirement of Chief Justice Francis Korkpor? This is less than a year ago.
So it became weird that the very President George Manneh Weah would on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, appoint former Chief Justice Cllr. Francis S. Korkpor, Sr. as Liberian Government’s Representative to the Board of Directors of ArcelorMittal Liberia Holding Limited. Executive Mansion statement says Korpor’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Korpkor is retired as Chief Justice, the head of the third branch of the Liberian Government, and is still receiving enumeration as a retired former official. Some may argue that the appointment is in a private sector, but yet still, he was appointed by the Liberian leader and will be paid for services performed.
Legal experts say, Korkpor as a lawyer, should have known better not to accept the appointment because it is the same as double-dipping, meaning he would be paid twice for the same period of work at the same institution (The Liberian Government), this is generally not allowed and is considered fraudulent. Let it be noted that Korkpor will be working for and paid by the Liberian Government that a year ago, retired him.
This practice is often referred to as “double-dipping” and can result in serious consequences, including termination of employment, legal charges, and financial penalties.
Most organizations have policies in place to prevent double-dipping and require employees to disclose all sources of income, including any other jobs or positions they hold within the same institution. If an employee is found to have received multiple payments for the same work, they may be required to repay the excess amount and could face disciplinary action.
But what makes the situation of Cllr. Korkpor very strange is that his recent appointment came from the very president who presided over his retirement ceremonies. This is why experts are calling for a reversion of the appointment by President Weah in conformity with the rule of law.
President Weah must at all times seek to uphold the laws and not a violator of the very laws he took an oath to protect.
