There has been growing calls from Liberians from different dimension for President George Weah to dismiss three top government officials sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for act of corruption.
President Weah Chief of Office Staff and Minister of State Nathaniel McGill, National Port Authority Managing Director Bill Twehway, and Liberia Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephus were on Monday August 15,2022 sanctioned by The United States for what it says is their ongoing involvement in “public corruption”.
A day later President suspended the three officials noting that he has received with serious concern, the United States Treasury Department report which designated the three officials for specialized sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act.
An executive Manson release noted that the President view the allegations against the officials contained in the report as grave.
But many Liberians have reacted angrily to decision by the President to suspend the three officials instead of dismissing them.
Phoning in on various radio talk-shows in Monrovia, Liberians believe that President Weah’s decision to suspend the three government officials is only intended to “covering up” for them which will possibly affect his government.
Some of the callers argued that the corrupt action of these government officials and the sanctioned by U.S. Department of Treasury was to help President Weah get rid corruption officials from his government.
CSO share citizens’ views
Civil society organizations have also defended calls from the public for President Weah to dismiss the three government officials.
Addressing a news conference in Monrovia Tuesday August 16, 2022, Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) Executive Director Anderson Miamen believes that President Weah still has an opportunity to redeem his government, but noted that such revival must begin by immediately dismissing and not suspending officials of the executive that have been internationally found wanted in integrity.
Maimen said these designations reinforce numerous recommendations that have been made to President Weah and the Government of Liberia to show genuine political will and be practical, impartial, and holistic about the fight against Corruption in the country.
“Certainly, the fight against corruption must neither be reduced to an intellectual exercise nor abused by thwarting legitimate processes to fight back at those in the vanguard fighting corruption” he noted.
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia Executive Director, urged the US Government to “spare no accomplices and beneficiaries of such significant acts of corruption being perpetrated by some Liberian Government officials.
What have the politicians said?
As expected opposition politicians have also added their voices to the many calls asking President Weah to let go the three senior government officials.
Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon a fierce critic of the Weah’s administration said the sanction have national and international adverse implication on country noting failure by President Weah to dismiss them will clearly shows that he agrees with their corrupt practices and the harm they have cause the country.
Senator Dillon wants the President order the Ministry of Justice to liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request the US Government support so as to commence an immediate investigation and prosecution of the three officials.
He expressed thanks to the US government for the step taking in helping the country bring to book those who violates the public trust.
Also speaking Alternative National Congress Political Leader Alexander Cummings asserted that the President decision to suspend three officials who are his closest cronies shows that he is shamefully “complicit in the stealing”and abuses that have swallow-up his administration.
Cummings noted that no matter how President Weah pretends, corruption and abuse of power are well known to the Liberian people.
According to the ANC leader, the suspension and announcement of an investigation by President Weah only amount to “cover-up” that is intended to shield the Liberian leader.
Cummings indicated that President Weah has commissioned many investigations with no tangible outcome and he does not expect anything credible outcome from his announced investigation.
The 2023 Presidential hopeful mentioned that the activities of the President Chief of Office Staff Nathaniel McGill over the last five years has to be view by reflecting the image and values of President Weah.
“if we did not know what is COS/ his gatekeeper was doing, then President Weah is incompetent and inept to lead Liberia. If President knew what his COS/gatekeeper was doing and he did not act to stop it which appears to be more like the case, then he is a partner, he is an enabler, a facilitator of the stealing”Cummings told a Press Conference in Monrovia Wednesday 17, 2022.
He said President Weah mere suspension of his three officials, is not good enough to address the injuries cause the Liberia people by the action these individuals nor is it enough to exonerate the president from Public perception about his involvement in the commission of what he refers to as hard crimes.
Cummings wants the Liberian leader to go beyond suspending the officials and immediately dismissed them as ask the help of the US Government to prosecute them.
What is in the sanction
The US Treasury department imposed sanctions on the Liberian officials on Monday for their alleged involvement in ongoing public corruption in Liberia.
“Through their corruption these officials have undermined democracy in Liberia for their own personal benefit,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.
The Treasury said, during his tenure in government, McGill received bribes from potential investors, and accepted kickbacks for steering contracts to companies in which he had an interest.
He also allegedly manipulated public procurement processes in order to award multi-million-dollar contracts to companies in which he has ownership, including by abusing emergency procurement processes to rig contract bids among other offences.
Cephus is accused of developing close relationships with suspects of criminal investigations and has received bribes from individuals in exchange for having their cases dropped.
The report claimed Cephus worked behind the scenes to establish arrangements with subjects of money laundering investigations to cease investigations in order to personally benefit financially.
Twehway is reported to have orchestrated the diversion of US$1.5 million in vessel storage fee funds from the NPA into a private account.
He is also accused of unilaterally awarding a contract to his own company for loading and unloading cargo at the Port of Buchanan, among other crimes
