—- Terms Boakai Administration’s Anti-Corruption Fight ‘Witch-Hunt’
IPNEWS: Former Liberian President, and political leader of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) George M. Weah has vowed to strongly resist what he describes as a “witch-hunt” by the Boakai’s administration against former officials from his previous government.
Speaking at the headquarters of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Wednesday, July 31, 2024, Weah flank by former government officials and CDC Legislative caucus, urged party members and other opposition groups to stand against the Boakai administration’s actions targeting former government officials which has the propensity of undercutting Liberia’s political credentials earned with the tears and blood of innocent Liberians.
Weah, also a celebrated soccer legend, reflected on his administration’s efforts to maintain peace and stability in Liberia over the past six years, emphasizing that his government refrained from persecuting officials of the previous administration in a bid to reconcile the people yet the Boakai administration is using anti-corruption fight to target key officials of his administration.
Recently, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the Ministry of Justice indicted several former officials from Weah’s administration, including former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh, former Solicitor General Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, former Comptroller of the Financial Intelligence Agency D. Moses P. Cooper, and former Director General of the Financial Intelligence Agency Stanley Ford.
In a surprised move, the government of Liberia apprehended for Solicitor General Cllr. Tuan, Karmoh, Jefferson Karmoh, former National Security Advisor, and D. Moses P. Cooper, former Comptroller of the Financial Intelligence Agency, were detained after failing to meet the financial requirements for a criminal appearance bond, with Judge Ben Barcon rejecting their plea for a personal recognizance bond despite their prominent status.
Samuel Tweah, former Finance and Development Minister during the Weah’s administration, another key figure in the indictment, is reportedly in neighboring South Africa, swiftly responded to the arrest order by the court and described the charges against him and the arrest of his colleagues as a “total witch-hunt” in a statement on social media.
The whereabouts of Stanley Ford remain unknown. However, sources tell the authoritative Independent Probe that Ford fled to the Gambia, days before the indictment was unsealed.
Weah called on the Boakai’s administration to ensure justice is served impartially. He also pointed to what he described as corrupt practices within the current government, including the alleged mismanagement of a US$22 million road maintenance fund and the controversial acquisition of 285 earth-moving equipment, urging that these issues be addressed comprehensively. Detail comes in shortly.
