IPNEWS: The former Ambassador of the United States of America to Liberia and the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas Greenfield, during her recent visit to Liberia expressed total disappointment in Liberians giving top elective and other government positions to individuals who are sanctioned by the US Department of Foreign Asset Control.
Madam Greenfield described it as disturbing to see officials of government that have been sanctioned by the United States, following series of investigations on their involvement in corruption and other basic human rights violations, serving key positions in different branches of the Liberian government, especially the Legislature.
Two sanctioned individuals, Nathaniel McGill and Bill Twehway, who were elected as senators by their respective counties in the October 2023 general and presidential elections in Liberia, as well as Emmanuel Nuquay, designated under the Global Magnitsky Act for their alleged involvement in corruption, have been elected to head key committees of the Liberian Legislature in the newly inaugurated Unity Party government.
Ambassador Greenfield, speaking to a local media outlet in Monrovia, noted that sanctioning of officials by the United States government around the world is an effort to support good governance and accountability, making sure that the rights of people are not violated by others.
She said Liberia as a country has to address the situation of empowering sanctioned individuals, because many of their involvement into the acts for which they were sanctioned have the propensity of taking the country towards bad democracy.
According to her, the US Government is willing to work with the Government of Liberia in an instance of establishing a war and economic crimes court that could prosecute and further investigate corruptions and the reported human rights violations that led to the sanctioning of those individuals.
The Ambassador noted that those persons who have not been removed from the sanction list under the United States Department of Foreign Asset Control have to earn being removed from the sanction; but seeing them not earning removal and occupying key positions in government poses a barrier to the country’s fight against corruption and the culture of impunity.
She however did not confirm or deny reports that there could be more individuals in Liberia that would be sanctioned in the coming days, but stated that the US is watching around the world and can release sanctions for individuals that are investigated and found liable.
Amb. Greenfield urged Liberians, especially the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, to take the necessary steps as a country to address the issue of corruption; basically, that has to do with reported culprits in the corridors of power.
In the past administration, she believes that there was not much done to have corruption controlled and taking out sanctioned officials from the system in Liberia, which she sees the new administration being vocal to fight against.
Ambassador Greenfield observed that Liberia is a country with good potential and riches, but its citizens will have to work around its resources for the growth and development of the land.
Officials of government currently facing US sanctions at the Legislature are senators Emmanuel Nuquay and Nathaniel McGill, both from Margibi County, Senator Bill Twehway of Rivercess County; Senator Prince Johnson of Nimba County, and Senator Albert Chie of Grand Kru County, for different violations ranging from human rights abuse to corruption.
However, in a surprise move to ensure that perpetrators of heinous crimes against humanity during the 14 years brutal civil to account for their deeds, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai assured the U.S. Diplomat that he will set up an office that will explore the feasibility for the establishment of a war and economic crime court (WECC)
The assertion from President Boakai was contained in his inaugural address delivered to the Liberian people on Monday, January 22, 2024, where he outlined his priority areas that will be impactful for the country and its people during his tenure.
“We have decided to set up an office to explore the feasibility for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC) to provide an opportunity for those who bear the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity to account for their actions in court”, President Boakai said.
The President contended that an estimated quarter of a million of the Liberian people perished in the war, stressing that “we cannot forever remain unmoved by this searing national tragedy without closure”.
“We shall seek advice and assistance from the Office of the United Nations Secretary General to ensure that the court, if found feasible, will be in compliance with the highest standards of similar courts everywhere. The Legislature will have it say appropriately in this matter in order to avoid any appearance of vendetta or witch-hunt”, the President said.
The call for the establishment of the court which has dominated the Liberian political discourse for some time now and President Boakai is the second high profile public official in recent time under the present dispensation to make a positive statement towards making the court a reality.
The first was Senator McGill who initiated the measure to actualize the establishment of the court with his vow to urgently introduce the bill so that the Liberian people through their representations in the national legislature will take a firm stand decision towards making the court a reality.
Senator McGill in making the case for the court stated that if established it will not only prosecute people for crimes, they may have committed but also to vindicate people who have been wrongly accused.
Speaking to the media recently, McGill said as a victim of false accusations of corruption, he would work with civil society organizations to ensure the establishment of the court to help to vindicate him and others or prosecute them if found guilty.
“People accuse me and many others every day largely based on perceptions,” the former Chief of Office Staff of President Weah lamented. “I want an economic crimes court, including the war crime court. I will work with civil society to ensure that is done. We need to come up with recommendations on the TRC document.”
He also said he will network with his colleagues both in the Senate and the House of Representatives to ensure that the bill when it is introduced will attract the maximum cooperation and understanding of every lawmaker in the country.
