By Taisiah K. Merfee

IPNEWS-Monrovia: The opposition Democratic People’s Party of Liberia (DPPL) has condemned what it said is the cosmetic and face shielding suspension of State for Presidential Affairs Minister, Nathaniel McGill, Solicitor General, Seyma Syrenius Cephas and National Port Authority managing Director, Bill Twehway.

The United States Government has imposed sanctions on the trio on allegation of institutionalized corruption and the DPLL has accused President Weah of facilitating the act.

According to DPPL National Chairman, Atty. Dickson Tamba, the decision comes in the wake of the President’s continuous patronage and expressed support of corruption and abuse of public resources by his cronies.

President Weah on Tuesday morning suspended Bill Twehway, Managing Director of the National Port Authority, Sayma Syrenius Cephas, Solicitor General of the Republic of Liberia and Nathaniel F. McGill, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs/Chief of office staff of the President following An Office of Foreign Assets Control – OFAC report that sanctioned the three top officials of the Liberian Government.

Atty. Tamba said DPPL believes the action of the President is cosmetic and clearly indicates his lack of political will to fight corruption in the Country.

He noted the DPPL and the Liberian people are convinced that President Weah himself has benefited from the loots of his lieutenants and so has deliberately refused to take stronger actions against the three officials, who are his good friends caught in the web of series of corruption reports.

Atty. Tamba added that President Weah and his CDC campaigned on an anti-corruption mantra while they had not taken state power.

During his inaugural address in January 2018, the Liberian Leader promised to end corruption in public service, but as far as many Liberian at home and abroad are concerned, he has reneged on his promise.

“OFAC’s sanctions on officials very close to the President is grave and shows that President Weah cannot fight corruption,” the DPPL national chairman said in a statement.

He said the opposition Party calls on the Liberian people, members of all opposition political parties, civil society organizations, the media, and other progressive groups to ensure the report is treated with utmost consideration and urgency while pushing the collective interest of Liberia.

Meanwhile, the National Executive Committee of the DPPL says it welcomes the sanctions /Designation of top officials of the Weah government by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the US Department of the Treasury that administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries and regimes, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers and others.

DPPL said it believes the US government’s action is an indication of the longstanding ties between Washington and Monrovia.

It has called on the US government to continue such actions as a true traditional ally of Liberia if accountability and transparency and integrity are to be upheld in public service in Africa’s oldest Republic for its development. “God bless the people of Liberia and save the state,” the DPPL’s statement concluded.