Senator Snowe Urges Liberia to Clear Reported US$17.5 Million ECOWAS Arrears
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Briefing the Senate, Sen. Edwin Snowe warned that unpaid dues could bring sanctions and weaken Liberia's standing in the regional bloc, according to Liberian press reports.
Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe has urged the government to deal with Liberia's reported US$17.5 million debt to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), according to The New Dawn and The New Republic.
Snowe, who leads Liberia's delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, briefed the Senate plenary on Tuesday. He said Liberia could face sanctions if the arrears are not addressed, and that non-payment could weaken its standing in the regional body. The reports do not say which sanctions might apply.
"Alongside our representation comes a responsibility to meet our financial obligations," The New Dawn quotes him as saying.
The New Republic reports that Snowe said arrears place Liberia among delinquent member states, limiting its ability to take part in decisions or bid for leadership posts. The paper says the debt built up under several administrations, and that the Senate is expected to work with the Finance and Foreign Affairs ministries on a payment plan, with options reportedly including staggered payments over three fiscal years. It also says senators may write to President Joseph Boakai asking that the sum be prioritized in the next budget.
The New Dawn adds that Liberia has been allocated the ECOWAS Commission presidency for 2030 to 2034, subject to meeting unspecified requirements. Snowe also urged the Legislature to study voting rights for Liberians abroad, and promised the Senate a report on his talks in the United States.