–Designated Corruption Trinity: McGill, Cephus, Twehway Suspended; President Must Distance from Sherman & Prince Johnson, Or Face…

“The United States is a proud and dedicated partner and friend of Liberia and stands with the people of Liberia in support of democracy and the rule of law and will continue to promote accountability for corrupt actors, regardless of their position or political affiliation.”

“Corruption has long undermined Liberia’s democracy and its economy, robbing the Liberian people of funds for public services, empowering illicit actors, degrading the business environment, and damaging the rule of law and effective governance in the country. Corruption also contributes to diminished confidence in government and public perception of impunity for those with power. These designations reaffirm the commitment of the United States to hold corrupt actors accountable.”

“In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today, Monday, August 15, 2022, may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to enforcement action. Furthermore, unless an exception applies, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for any of the individuals or entities designated today could be subject to U.S. sanctions.” – Excerpts of United States Treasury Department Statement of the sanctioning of three targeted Liberian government officials.

Meanwhile, United States Ambassador to Liberia, Michael McCarthy on the imposition of designated sanctions on three of President George Weah’s close officials stated on Monday: “I would never tell a president who is elected by the people what to do but I think the President knows what the best moves will be. I also want to emphasize that President was invited to Washington in December and nothing will change that invitation stands because this is against individuals and not the country. I’m sure this will get the attention of the President. In some ways, this offers new tools and impetus to make good decisions for the country.”

On Monday, August 15, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Liberian government officials Nathaniel McGill, Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and Bill Twehway for their involvement in ongoing public corruption in Liberia. These officials are designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world.

According to the United States Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, “Through their corruption, these officials have undermined democracy in Liberia for their own personal benefit.” “Treasury’s designations today demonstrate that the United States remains committed to holding corrupt actors accountable and to the continued support of the Liberian people.”

The US government Treasury Department further stated that corruption has long undermined Liberia’s democracy and its economy, robbing the Liberian people of funds for public services, empowering illicit actors, degrading the business environment, and damaging the rule of law and effective governance in the country.

“Corruption also contributes to diminished confidence in government and public perception of impunity for those with power. These designations reaffirm the commitment of the United States to hold corrupt actors accountable. The United States is a proud and dedicated partner and friend of Liberia and stands with the people of Liberia in support of democracy and the rule of law and will continue to promote accountability for corrupt actors, regardless of their position or political affiliation.”

The United States is also committed to working with the people and Government of Liberia to elevate countering corruption as a priority, including by bolstering public sector anti-corruption capacity, and reviewing and re-evaluating criteria for bilateral and multilateral assistance, including around transparency and accountability. Holding corrupt actors accountable and bolstering anti-corruption efforts are both consistent with, and reflects our commitment to implementing, the United States Strategy on Countering Corruption.

CORRUPT LIBERIAN OFFICIALS

 “Nathaniel McGill (McGill) is Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff to President George Weah. During his tenure in government, McGill has bribed business owners, received bribes from potential investors, and accepted kickbacks for steering contracts to companies in which he has an interest. McGill has 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. McGill is credibly accused of involvement in a wide range of other corrupt schemes including soliciting bribes from government office seekers and misappropriating government assets for his personal gain. He has used government funds allocated to other Liberian government institutions to run his own projects, made off-the-books payments in cash to senior government leaders, and organized warlords to threaten political rivals. McGill has received an unjustified stipend from various Liberian government institutions and used his position to prevent his misappropriation from being discovered. McGill regularly distributes thousands of dollars in undocumented cash to other government officials for government and non-government activities.

McGill is being designated for being a foreign person who is a current government official who is responsible for or complicit in, or who has directly or indirectly engaged in, corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery.”

“Sayma Syrenius Cephus (Cephus) is the current Solicitor General and Chief Prosecutor of Liberia. Cephus has developed close relationships with suspects of criminal investigations and has received bribes from individuals in exchange for having their cases dropped. Cephus has worked behind the scenes to establish arrangements with subjects of money laundering investigations to cease investigations in order to personally benefit financially. He shields money launderers and helps clear them through the court system and has intimidated other prosecutors in an attempt to quash investigations. Cephus has also utilized his position to hinder investigations and block the prosecution of corruption cases involving members of the government. Cephus has been accused of tampering with and purposefully withholding evidence in cases involving members of opposition political parties to ensure conviction.

Cephus is being designated for being a foreign person who is a current government official who is responsible for or complicit in, or who has directly or indirectly engaged in, corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery.”

“Bill Twehway (Twehway) is the current Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA). Twehway orchestrated the diversion of $1.5 million in vessel storage fee funds from the NPA into a private account. Twehway secretly formed a private company to which, through his position at the NPA, he later unilaterally awarded a contract for loading and unloading cargo at the Port of Buchanan. The contract was awarded to the company less than a month after its founding. Twehway and others used family members to obfuscate their own involvement in the company while still benefitting financially from the company.

Twehway is being designated for being a foreign person who is a current government official who is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery.”

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of Monday, August 15, 2022’s action, all property and interests in property of these targets that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons.

“In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action. Furthermore, unless an exception applies, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for any of the individuals or entities designated today could be subject to U.S. sanctions.”

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.

GLOBAL MAGNITSKY

“Building upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, E.O. 13818 was issued on December 20, 2017, in recognition that the prevalence of human rights abuse and corruption that have their source, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States, had reached such scope and gravity as to threaten the stability of international political and economic systems. Human rights abuse and corruption undermine the values that form an essential foundation of stable, secure, and functioning societies; have devastating impacts on individuals; weaken democratic institutions; degrade the rule of law; perpetuate violent conflicts; facilitate the activities of dangerous persons; and undermine economic markets. The United States seeks to impose tangible and significant consequences on those who commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption, as well as to protect the financial system of the United States from abuse by these same persons.”

President Weah: US’ Sanctions Too Close To Home

Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel McGill is the Chief of Staff in the Office of President George Weah. McGill runs the day-to-day activities of President Weah and even calls the shots as to whom is appointed in the Weah’s administration. Minister McGill even acts as Officer-in-Charge when the President travels out of Liberia, but to be linked to chronic corruption by the US government speaks to the fact the sanctions are too close to home – the Office of President George Weah.

In the 2020/2021 national budget for McGill’s Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs was allotted US$18 million, and subsequently in the 2021/2022 national budget, McGill’s budget increased to US$20 million in a country whose population is about 5.3 people. It remains to be seen what the money is being used for to benefit the people and government of Liberia but the purchase and construction of many properties throughout Liberia speaks volume that the US-designated Nathaniel McGill is publicly stealing states funds for personal aggrandizement to the detriment of the Liberian people. No serious president with about 5.3 million people in his country living in squalor will dare tolerate a mere mention of increasing his budget, the legislature, and his cronies like McGill.

During a recent political engagement with citizens in Bong County, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Nathaniel McGill lauded corrupt officials from the ruling establishment who were stealing public resources and investing the same in Liberia.

In Bong County, Minister McGill celebrated with much pomp and pageantry. According to him, looting the government’s coffers and investing the proceeds in personal infrastructural development is “a good thing” as long as those infrastructures are built here in Liberia.  He argues that “even if I was stealing the money and giving it to the Liberian people, that’s a good thing I’m doing because at least I’m not stealing it and carrying it to Europe… We take the small money we get, we go to our people and build a house there.” He elaborated by saying “So, I get the money, should I take it to Ghana? But if Bong County has the house, will I take it from here and carry it? The day God takes me, I’ll carry the house with me? Our grandchildren will come and say Bong County is looking fine.”

Commenting on the designated sanctions against President George Weah’s three cronies, United States Ambassador to Liberia, Michael McCarthy first stated that the invitation to attend a summit of African leaders is still in the cards for President Weah despite the imposition of sanctions on three key members of his government, adding, McCarthy said the sanctions are only targeting the individuals named.

On whether he expects President Weah to dismiss the officials named, Ambassador McCarthy said: “I would never tell a president who is elected by the people what to do but I think the President knows what the best moves will be. I also want to emphasize that President was invited to Washington in December, and nothing will change, and that invitation stands because this is against individuals and not the country. I’m sure this will get the attention of the President. In some ways, this offers new tools and impetus to make good decisions for the country.”

With all the reports and sanctions coming from the United States government, and local and international organizations, one would think the Chief of Staff to President Weah wouldn’t have said what he said. Mr. McGill’s statement is a determined attempt to legitimize corruption, which, in truth, should be taken very seriously by every Liberian. This is why Liberians were not surprised when the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Nathaniel McGill, Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and Bill Twehway for their involvement in ongoing public corruption in Liberia.

Corruption has persisted throughout the government in Liberia, and the World Bank’s most recent Worldwide Governance Indicators reflect that corruption is still a serious problem.  Liberia’s score on the 2021 Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index dropped from 29 to 28. On the Ibrahim Index, Liberia ranks 27 out of 54 countries, with a score of 47 for the year 2020.  In the World Justice Project’s 2021 report on the Rule of Law, Liberia ranked 110 out of 139 with a score of 0.44. In terms of the absence of corruption in government, Liberia ranked 121 out of 139 countries with a score of 0.21.  Corruption and national development are mutually exclusive.

Another official who is very close to President Weah and has been designated by the US government, is Mr. Bill Twehway, who heads the National Ports Authority (NPA), a company known as ‘Gateway to the Liberian Economy’. The fact that Twehway can siphon US$1.5 million under the watch of his friend, President Weah, speaks to the fact the President allowed corruption to come home to him.

Liberians have witnessed the L$16 billion missing sagas, the US$25 million mopped saga, the US$25 million food stimulus saga, US$300,000 Buchanan Port Saga, etc. under the watch of President George Weah since he ascended the presidency. Liberians wouldn’t have been as worried as they are if there had been any effort to bring the culprits of the earth-shattering criminality to book. The Weah-led government is carrying on as if all is well, while Liberians, who have become victims of over four decades of state-promoted roguery, languish under grinding poverty and unemployment, unable to afford even the most basic needs of life in a country so blessed by God.

Stealing from the people does not matter, once the money is not transferred abroad, but invested in Liberia, according to Mr. McGill. Some government officials are reportedly stealing from the Liberian people and building their personal properties in Liberia. But President Weah sees that and makes no policy statement to crack down on such reported thievery.

As for Solicitor General Sayma Syrennius Cephus, who is known for being one of the legal officers for President Weah’s party, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), being designated by the US government for chronic corruption, does paint a gloomy picture on the Office of the President. The fact Cephus is labeled by the US for shielding money launderers, taking bribes from criminal and then guide them through the legal process as well intimidating other prosecutors in an attempt to quash investigations sends a dark cloud over President Weah’s office who is close to Cephus. Cephus has also utilized his position to hinder investigations and block the prosecution of corruption cases involving members of the Weah-led government. Cephus has been accused of tampering with and purposefully withholding evidence in cases involving members of opposition political parties to ensure conviction. All of these are bad omen for President Weah’s office, who has finally mustered the courage to suspend the three designated-corruption trinity – McGill, Cephus and Twehway.

Weah Musters Courage and Suspends Designated-Corruption Trinity: McGill, Cephus & Twehway

President George Weah having 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, has mustered the political will and courage to suspend the three designated-corruption trinity- Minister of State Nathaniel McGill, Solicitor General Sayma Syrennius Cephas and National Port Authority (NPA) managing director Bill Twehway.

An Executive Mansion statement issued Tuesday, August 16, 2022, said President Weah views the allegations against the officials contained in the report as grave and suspended the three officials 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.

Previous US government’s Action against Corrupt Officials in Liberia

On the International Anti-Corruption Day of 2021, the United States Treasury Department under its Global Magnitsky Act imposed economic sanctions on a key supporter of President George Weah, Senator Prince Yormie Johnson (Nimba County). According to the report “as a senator, Johnson has been involved in pay-for-play funding with government ministries and organizations for personal enrichment,”

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Liberia’s Senator, Varney Sherman, for corruption and bribery and blocked his assets. OFAC noted that Senator Sherman, who chairs the Liberian Senate Judiciary Committee, offered bribes to multiple judges associated with his trial for a 2010 bribery scheme during the former Sirleaf administration, and he had an undisclosed conflict of interest with the judge who ultimately returned a not guilty verdict in July 2019.

On September 10, 2020, the United States Government barred former Liberian passport director Andrew Wonplo and his entire family from traveling to America “due to his involvement in significant corruption.”

Earlier this year in February, the head of the U.S. delegation at the celebration of Liberia’s Bicentennial – Special Assistant to the U.S. President Madam Dana Banks told President Weah and his officials to their faces that, “Like many democracies, Liberia still has work to do to seriously address and root out corruption. We bring this up as your friends who are eager to help. Corruption is an act of robbery. It robs Liberia’s citizens of access to health care, to public safety, to education. It robs you of the healthy business environment we all know Liberia could have, which would lift countless Liberians out of poverty. It subverts economic opportunity, exacerbates inequality, and erodes integrity. It eats away at the democracy you have worked so hard to build. Liberia has a host of anti-corruption institutions. But while these institutions are nominally and legally independent from the Government of Liberia, the truth is that the government fails to adequately fund them and exerts its influence upon them. Too many of Liberia’s leaders have chosen their own personal short-term gain over the long-term benefit of their country.”

With all the reports and sanctions coming from the United States government, and local and international organizations, one would think the now suspended Chief of Staff to President Weah wouldn’t have said what he said. Mr. McGill’s statement is a determined attempt to legitimize corruption, which, in truth, should be taken very seriously by every Liberian. This is why Liberians were not surprised when the US U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Nathaniel McGill, Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and Bill Twehway for their involvement in ongoing public corruption in Liberia.

Distancing from Senators Varney Sherman (Cape Mount) and Prince Y. Johnson (Nimba County) is Cardinal

Now that President George Weah has finally mustered the political courage and will to suspend his three trusted buddies following the US targeted against them, the President must also be able not to do business with Grand Cape Mount County Senator, Varney Sherman and Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson. These two lawmakers have also been sanctioned by the US government for corruption, have been banned from traveling to the United States while their assets have been frozen by the US government.

According to the US government “as a senator, Johnson has been involved in pay-for-play funding with government ministries and organizations for personal enrichment.” The US government warned anybody doing business with Johnson risked the wrath of their government. As for Senator Sherman, he was sanctioned by the US government for corruption and bribery, and thus blocking his assets as well. Similar warning was issued that nobody should do business with them.

Political commentators believe that President Weah must heed the US government’s warning and distance himself from Senators Sherman and Prince Y. Johnson if he does not want to fall in a trap being set by the Americans for suspected corrupt officials.

The fact that the US government said Senator Prince Johnson usually uses his people in his county to win political votes and later reap cash benefits to those he supports politically, is a play-for-play game that has enriched him to the detriment of his very people. President Weah, according to political pundits, must push Senator Johnson far from him in the process leading to his reelection bid for the 2023 elections. Keeping designated criminal, according to the US report, will send a bleak picture for Weah’s reelection bid and he too may risk being sanctioned because he used these ‘indicted criminals’ to campaign for him for reelection. A similar posture must come to bear on Senator Varney Sherman also because associating with this Senator, who the US government has warned individuals, institutions do not do to business with, may haunt President Weah if he continues to keep Sherman in his circle.

The Way Forward

One political pundit puts it this way: “Because money is stolen or mismanaged in Liberia – legally and illegally – with impunity, Liberians have lost the opportunity to develop their country, and compete with the rest of the world. Corruption and national development are mutually exclusive, that’s why Liberians shouldn’t ignore government officials like President Weah’s Chief of Staff McGill, Nathaniel McGill who comes on national TV and Radio stations to boast of stealing public funds but building houses in the country.  The money for the country’s development is the same money they have stolen, according to the US report.”

Other political pundits say Liberia will only commence its journey into national rebirth the moment Liberians take the stealing of government funds seriously. “Liberians cannot to continue to watch people empty their treasury and then still pretend they will build infrastructure. It is the money for infrastructure that has been stolen by officials who have been appointed to serve their people and country. Corruption and infrastructural development are mutually exclusive.”

The US targeted sanctions on select group of ‘corrupt officials’ in the Weah-led administration must send a clear signal that Liberia’s international partners have resolved to fight Liberia’s case since past and the current Liberian government have had a lain-back approach to comprehensively deal with corruption and corrupt officials.

For supporters of the Weah-led government who have been spreading misinformation that the sanctions are against Liberia, the US government through Ambassador Michael McCarthy has categorically made it clear that the sanctions are targeted for corrupt officials, that is why the recent US government’s invitation to African heads of state, including President George Weah of Liberia, still stands on the cards, because the sanctions are not for the country Liberia but rather corrupt Liberian government officials to serve as a deterrent to curb corruption which has become chronic menace on the head in Liberia.