IPNEWS: In 2018 the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led by former international football icon, George Weah, took over the reign of Liberia promising a ‘Change for Hope’ nation, where corruption, scandals, and other vices would have no place in his six-year term.
In his inaugural address, President George Weah promised a nation, where the people’s monies would not end the pockets of his government officials as well as promised a pro-poor government intended to lift the lives of the ordinary to another level. The new president then said Liberians would not be spectators of their own economy, as he was bent on strengthening Liberian businesses in order to compete with foreign-owned businesses.
But just in almost five years in his six years term, the CDC-led government under the watch of President George Weah has been accused by opposition politicians, ordinary Liberians and other local and international stakeholders of bad governance, corruption, corrupt judiciary, lack of proper rule of law, human rights abuses, mysterious deaths (in the case of LRA and CBL employees), among many others.
It is against these backdrop that one of Liberia’s oldest opposition political institutions, the Liberia People’s Party (LPP) has added its voice to the many voices that have chided the CDC-led government over the poor state of affairs of the country since the ascendency of the Weah’s administration.
The LPP is an offspring of the progressives – a group of Liberian politicians who advocated for multiparty democracy and social justices – during the latter days of the second republic and beginning the of the second republic, spinning over years of struggle to bring change and move the country away from one party state to multiparty democracy. The likes of Dr. Amos Sawyer (deceased), Dr. Togba Nah Tipoteh, Dr. Henry Boima Fahnbulleh, among many countless Liberians were forerunners of the LPP in their struggle.
On November 16, 2022, the LPP through its current National Chairman J. Yanqui Zaza issued a Statement to the Liberian nation and its people, where the party questioned the claim of President George Weah’s administration that Liberia has improved its fight against corruption, and subsequently, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) along with the World Bank might provide money for Liberia.
According to the LPP National Chairman, President Weah’s senior finance and economic adviser, Mr. Samuel Tweah, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, stated that “…corruption indicator appears to suggest that Liberia continues to make progress on anti-corruption reform, quoting local daily website www.Frontpageafricaonline.com).” He added, “When I look at the scorecard, it is a different narrative. The narrative we are getting from people about Liberia going backward is not being supported by data. The data shows a consistent pattern of improvement.”
The LPP through its Chairman J. Yanqui Zaza wonders, “How can President Weah claim to be winning the war on corruption when he has failed to institute and enforce one of the most effective anti-corruption tools – punishment, the seventh of the ten effective tools listed by the World Bank”? https://blogs.worldbank.org/governance/here-are-10-ways-fight-)
The LPP further states: “Instead of punishing, (for example, naming and shaming) corrupt officials, President Weah is silent or is financing their campaigns for elected political offices, according to anonymous resources. His silence or indirect support of corrupt officials is, indirectly, encouraging others to steal. In addition, President Weah, himself, has failed to fulfill the moral requirement of integrity, which is to publish his assets, another form of punishment.”
The Party noted the fact that the United States government through its Treasury Department had to sanction three former officials of the CDC-led government for ‘corruption’ as well as two current senators as well, is clear indication the fight against corruption has gone nowhere in Liberia. It states the fact that a foreign country had to sanction corrupt Liberian officials only speaks to the lack of interest of the CDC-led government under the watch of President George Weah that it has no intention to clamp down on the menace.
Commenting on the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Liberia People’s Party (LPP) says “MCC might not list punishment as an important anti-corruption tool, or it might have used different measures. However, do the gains earn from President Weah’s fight on corruption outweigh the consequences of its corrupt activities? If yes, Liberia is moving forward.”
The LPP also asked: “Did President Weah provide documents to MCC to explain why his administration’s anti-corruption tools were ineffective in deterring, preventing and/or identifying corrupt officials before the US government sanctioned them?”
“Did President Weah submit documents to MCC to explain why Liberia’s anti-corruption tools were ineffective in deterring and preventing the drug kingpins from bringing $100M worth of illegal substances?”
“Did President Weah provide documents to MCC to explain why Liberia’s anti-corruption tools were ineffective in deterring and preventing criminals from bringing L$100M worth of counterfeit banknotes into the country?”
“Did President Weah explain to MCC why his anti-corrupt measures did not discourage any of his lieutenants from corrupt activities?”
The LPP through its National Chairman, J. Yanqui Zaza states that all what have and continue to happen in regards to inadequately clamping down on corruption, smuggling of drug into the country, smuggling of LS$100 million counterfeit notes in the country, as well as the sanction placed on corrupt former and current government officials “Are not good signs for Liberia”.
Concluding LPP through its National Chairman J. Yanqui Zaza appealed to President Weah’s administration to not only name and shame corrupt officials but also to name and shame third parties involved in corruption such as publishing the identities and addresses of the parties.
He states “The government also should encourage all organizations such as religious institutions and ordinary residents to end doing business with every party.”
Further, “the government should support family members who are willing to join the campaign to name and shame parties involved in undermining Liberia’s development.” The recent warning sounded by the United States government through their Ambassador in Monrovia, Michael McCarthy, according to the LPP, should be taken seriously if the Government wants to maintain a good relations with their number ally.
U.S. Envoy Sounds Serious Warning
In his recent address to Liberian journalists during the visit of Unites States of America Acting Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs Elizabeth Trudeau to Monrovia, US Ambassador to Liberia Michael McCarthy uttered deep dissatisfaction with the Government of Liberia for failing to investigate and prosecute past and current officials sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for “corruption.”
Amb. McCarthy’s criticism comes as three of President George Weah’s former officials, who were sanctioned by the US for alleged “public corruption”, are yet to be investigated as promised by the President in August this year.
“It’s true that the sanctioned officials never had their day in court but it’s very important for them to be held accountable,” McCarthy said at a press conference in the presence of the visiting US Acting Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs, Elizabeth Trudeau on November 14. “I am disappointed that nothing is going to happen? That’s really up to the Liberian people to decide. We feel very confident that if anyone did a real investigation, they will find the evidence.”
“Look at what the Treasury Department said about them. There were specifics about some of the allegations. So we don’t want them in America spending stolen money, and if it’s there, we’re going to freeze it. But it is up to processes in Liberia.”
Ambassador McCarthy further stated during the opening Remarks at Press Roundtable with Acting Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs Elizabeth Trudeau during her visit to Monrovia, that those engaged in certain transactions with these sanctioned individuals “May themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action”.
The U.S. Ambassador who was very serious, also said unless an exception applies, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for any of the individuals or entities could be subject to U.S. sanctions.
Stressing further, Ambassador said “I think it’s important to draw our attention back to the Treasury Department’s statement, specifically its notification that persons that engage in certain transactions with these sanctioned individuals may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action.
This applies not only to those who transact with these three individuals, but also with the other two individuals sanctioned.”
Destiny of Sanctioned Officials Up to Liberia
The US has sanctioned Bill Twehway, the former Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA), and two other high-profile senators — Prince Y. Johnson and Varney Sherman (of Nimba and Grand Cape Mount Counties, respectively) under the Global Magnitsky Act — which authorizes the US to sanction those it sees as human rights offenders, freeze their assets, and ban them from entering the US.
Sayma Syrenius Cephus, the country’s former solicitor general, and lead prosecutor, as well as Nathaniel McGill, the former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff to the President then, — completed the list of those sanctioned by the US in Liberia for corruption — bringing the total to five.
According to reports, McGill and Twehway are interested in running for political office in Margibi and Rivercess counties, respectively. McGill is accused of “manipulating public procurement processes to award multi-million dollar contracts to companies in which he has ownership,” and Twehway is accused of orchestrating the theft of $1.5 million in vessel storage fee funds from the National Port Authority into a private account.
The likes of Senators Prince Y. Johnson and Varney Sherman — close allies of the President — are eying reelections in 2023 and might win their counties. This situation has then forced the Ambassador to warn that the United States government may sanction anyone caught violating the sanctions against three of President George Weah’s former officials who were accused of public corruption.
Sen. Johnson was accused by the US government of engaging in large-scale corruption — a pay-for-play scheme with government ministries and organizations for personal enrichment; while his colleague Sherman, was sanctioned in 2019 for allegedly paying judges to decide cases in his favor, as well as facilitating payments to Liberian politicians to support the impeachment of a judge who has ruled against him.
The accused has however denied the US government allegation — with some engaging demanding proof from the US government regarding the allegation, while also accusing them of violating their rights to due process, saying the sanctions claimed against them were untrue and “innocent until proven guilty.”
But McCarthy maintained that the US government believes that these ex and current-sanctioned officials have reached a level of corruption and disruption to the democratic process even though the voters have the right to elect the leaders of their choice.
McCarthy, on the other hand, emphasized that while it is the right of the Liberian electorate to decide whether to elect these sanction officials, the US however had to act because the level of corruption by the accused had disrupted Liberia’s democratic process.
The US Ambassador added that the US has to take the decision to stop people from abusing Liberia’s democracy, saying the US has strong evidence showing that the sanctioned officials committed the acts that they were accused of, but it is up to the government and people of Liberia to follow processes to prosecute them.
“The US government believes that these ex- and current sanctioned officials have reached a level of corruption and disruption to the democratic process, despite the fact that voters have the right to choose their leaders.”
The issue of corruption has been a major flashpoint in the US-Liberia bilateral relationship, with McCarthy and other high-profile US government officials calling for action.
The likes of Dana Banks, a Special Assistant to Biden and Senior Director for Africa at the National Security Council Dana Banks and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United Nations and former Ambassador to Liberia have all joined the call for an end to pervasive corruption in the country.
“Too many of Liberia’s leaders have chosen their own personal short-term gain over the long-term benefit of their country. The expectation, sometimes, is that the United States and the rest of the international community will step in to solve Liberia’s long-term problems,” Banks said in a remark at the bicentennial celebration in Monrovia on February 14.
“So let me be clear, the United States is a proud and dedicated partner and friend of Liberia. But ultimately, only the Liberian Government and the Liberian people can tackle corruption, fight for accountability and transparency, and move this country forward.”
However, McCarthy at the time of announcing the sanction in August, said despite the plea from two of Biden’s high-profile officials, corruption has worsened to the point that it is now the dominant issue in a bilateral relationship that would otherwise show far more promise.
The US, he said, was then forced to act to sanction McGill, Twehway, and Cephus and the others as they were at the forefront in consistently advancing corruption within this government, “to the detriment of Liberia and all Liberians.”
The US diplomat, who has been vocal on the issue of corruption, has in time passed also warned of the impact of the menace on Liberia’s future.
Just last year, he warned that the US government was getting tired of corruption and instead wants to see results, and improvements in education, health, and better quality of life for citizens.
McCarthy went on to note that his government was very discouraged to see that Liberia was not making any serious progress relating to the fight against corruption.
He noted that corruption has seriously impeded the country’s social-economic growth.
McCarthy’s latest position was shared by the visiting US Acting Assistant Secretary of Global Public Affairs, Elizabeth Trudeau, who noted that the future of Liberia remains in the hands of the citizens.
“Liberia’s future is up to Liberians, especially as they gear up for another crucial election in 2023,” Trudeau said. “Because in the effort of pursuing the government’s accountability and combating disinformation, it is upon all Liberians, including you journalists, to tell the truth, and present the facts as a means of maintaining this peace in Liberia.
“I think as we take a look and move forward on what society, Liberia, is, I think the people of this country can look up to a positive future; they can look at unity and overcome an obstacle, and the United States is proud to be part of this great endeavor,” Trudeau added.
The Arrest of Traffickers and Seizure of US$100M Cocaine in Liberia
–Whistleblowers Express Fear for Safety
On the tip of the United States Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia security forces in collaboration with their US counterparts some time ago arrested some drug traffickers and seized about US$100 million worth of cocaine that was being transited through Liberia to an unknown final destination.
Those arrested and charged to court include Malam Conte, Makki Ahmed, Adulai Djibril Djalo and Oliver Zayzay.
Zayzay was arrested along with Makki Ahmed and Adulai Djibril Djalo on October 6 in Sierra Leone while attempting to flee Liberia after the historic cocaine bust and was turned over to the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency.
He along with other suspects were forwarded to the Monrovia Central Prison on after undergoing about three weeks of interrogation by the Drugs Enforcement Agency.
But a local daily, FrontPage Africa reported last week that Oliver Zayzay, the Liberian national linked to the importation of cocaine worth about US$100m to Liberia has been released from the Monrovia Central Prison.
The circumstances surrounding his release from the Monrovia Central Prison remain unclear. However, the whistleblowers who reported the discovery of the cocaine to the U.S. Embassy and the Liberian government fear that their lives are currently at stake due to his release.
Their fear stems from the threats made to them by some of the suspects involved with the shipment of the contraband who reportedly took their photos and recorded videos of them in their mobile phones and sent via WhatsApp to their partners’. According to the whistleblowers, they were threatened with death by the suspects when they were apprehended by state security forces who were secretly called to the scene by the whistleblowers.
FrontPage Africa gathered their concern has been communicated to the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean.
The police investigation established that Zayzay, who owns Prime Logistic and Supplies facilitated the escape to Sierra Leone co-suspects Makki Ahmed and Adulai Djibril Djalo who were wanted by the Liberian government for the transportation of the cocaine to Liberia.
Zayzay reportedly came into contact with Co-defendants Malam Conte and Adulal Djibril Djalo based upon a request from his friend, Pillar, who informed him that some of his friends had arrived in Monrovia and needed vehicles for rental services.
Accordingly, on Saturday, October 1. 2022, Zayzay droved Co-defendants Makki Ahmed Issam and Adulal Djibril Djalo to the Liberian-Sierra Leonean border and used an illegal crossing point via the Mano River under the cover of darkness to escape the arrests or the Co-defendants who were wanted by the state.
To What Extent Zayzay Was Involved?
Another local daily, The Daily Observer had earlier reported that the busting of the cocaine started when Zayzay and his Brazilian associate entered the office of AJA Group at Bong Mines Pier, Monrovia, asking to purchase a container of pig feet.
The first attendant they spoke with requested more details since the men appeared to desire a larger-than-usual purchase. Apparently, AJA group brings in containers of fresh frozen food — partly to supply its own supermarket, as well as for other merchants, including market women. But for one individual to request a whole container of pig feet — what could they want to do with all that consignment?
“We want to take it to Abidjan to sell,” Zayzay told the attendant at the AJA Group office.
This was the first red flag. Being quite aware of the supply and demand in the sub-regional market, the attendant quickly told Zayzay and his colleague that pig feet were not what the commodity usually requested by the Ivoirians. It was chicken.
A Wrong Timing for His Release?
Zayzay’s release comes at a time when the Senate has amended the Drug Law which categorizes drug offenses into two, hence making it non-bailable and bailable depending on the gravity of the crime.
In the wisdom of the Senate, those who are involved in the importation, distribution, massive production, and custody of illicit drugs shall not be granted the right to bail when caught in the act, while the end users of the drug shall have the right to a bail when apprehended in the act.
With the reported release of Oliver Zayzay, three more defendants in the US$100 million cocaine case are still being prosecuted, with the hope that those who liable are held culpable in keeping with the laws of Liberia.
What Political Pundits Say
Meanwhile political pundits have called on the George Weah’s government to heed all of the pieces of advises that have been proffered by local and international partners, including the United States government through their Ambassador, Michael McCarthy, in the fight against corruption and do the necessary things to save Liberia’s image, as well as improve the living conditions of the ordinary Liberians.
According to the pundit’s corruption, using Liberia as drug trafficking hub, failure to uphold human rights, mysterious deaths, corrupt judiciary, lack of rule of law – where justice is only dispensed to the highest bidders, are bad omen for the state of Liberia, and thus a real change in attitude and governance are needed to save the image of Liberia.
