The Council of Churches is pleased that President George M. Weah took a step in the direction of national accountability, courageous leadership, and integrity in public office.

While we recognize the president’s patience in trying to work with top government officials, we affirm his decisiveness to immediately suspend Minister of State Nathaniel McGill, Bill Twehway, head of the National Port Authority, and Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cehpus after the US put them on its chopping block for sanctioning.

These officials who are viewed as ethical drags on the progress of the nation and a noose around the president’s pro-poor agenda should have been axed a long time ago. Yet, President WEAH has risen to the occasion and seized the moment. It is our prayers that with the prompting of the US, and the outcry of various advocacy groups, the opportunity for cleansing and refreshing has come to Liberia. For this, our president deserves high praise.

We call upon the president and his team to replace these leaders immediately, with persons whose competence, integrity, and commitment to service align with the prosperity and wellbeing of all Liberians.

Earlier Tuesday, President George Weah has received with serious concern, a recent United States Treasury Department report which designates three of his officials for specialized sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act.

According to an Executive Mansion statement issued Tuesday, August 16, 2022, President Weah views the allegations against the officials contained in the report as grave.

In view of this, President George Weah has suspended the named officials, Minister of State Nathaniel McGill, the Managing Director of the National Port Authority Bill Twehway, and Solicitor General Seyma Syrennius Cephus with immediate effect to enable them to face investigation.

The President has also designated the principal deputies of the suspended officials to act in their stead, the release stated.