Liberia: ‘Bogus Suspensions, Fake Investigations’

The public response to the US Treasury sanctions against three of President George Weah’s most powerful officials exudes an air of profound consensus, with many recalling the controversial displays of wealth and power by the infamous three over the last few years. 

But perhaps more profound than the public response is the rather lukewarm return by the President himself.  In his statement, the President announced the suspension of the three sanctioned officials and that they would face investigation.

 Some argue that this could be a safe first response, to not immediately throw his closest officials under the bus. However, critics believe that the gravity of the sanctions imposed by the United States government for corruption ought to be regarded with stronger action than the mere suspension of the officials named. 

This was the crux of Alexander B. Cummings’ message when he went live on Facebook on August 17 to share his reaction to the sanctions on Minister of State Nathaniel McGill, Solicitor-General Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and National Port Authority Managing Director Bill Twehway. 

“We take note that President Weah has announced suspensions of the sanctioned officials of his administration pending another of his administration’s many publicly-announced ‘investigations’ which, all too often, have left much to be desired,” said Cummings, Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), a key member of the political opposition. 

“The announced suspension of President Weah’s closest cronies exposes the unsettling truth about our President: President Weah is either dangerously derelict or shamefully complicit in the stealing and abuses that have swallowed up his administration.”  

Indeed, there were great expectations among the public that the President would have delivered a heavy-handed response that could inspire and call for a new direction of accountability and transparency — especially in the final year of his first term, as he seeks reelection. 

And while notable transgressions by lower-level party stalwarts received hardly any reprimand, would the same have been realistically expected in the case of McGill and Co?  Cummings said in five years, if the President was unaware of McGill's excesses, then he is incompetent, but if he knew and failed to act, then the President is a partner, enabler, and facilitator of the stealing.

“President Weah is either dangerously derelict or shamefully complicit in the stealing and abuses that have swallowed up his administration,” Cummings argued. The President “has emboldened his officials to steal and behave unaccountably by his bad examples of suddenly acquiring unexplained wealth which he publicly displays in the purchase and building of personal condominiums, resorts and even an entire personal city since after inauguration” in 2018.

Cummings noted that the US sanctions on McGill, Tweahway, and Cephus, speak volumes about how President Weah has continued to poorly perform his duties and manage the country's resources.

He said Weah's mere suspension of his close confidant and two officials are inadequate to address the injuries caused to the Liberian people and also insufficient to exonerate the President from the increasing public perception of his involvement in the commission of these high crimes.

Cummings added that Weah has not only disappointed and disgraced the Liberian people by his lack of leadership, but has continued to encourage stealing by his officials, especially those in his inner circle, both by his bad examples and complicity.

He noted the President has often announced several investigations into murders, mysterious deaths, citizens disappearances, and cases of corruption, but noted that these investigations have never been made public or led to any desirable outcomes.

According to the ANC political leader, the President's pronounced suspension and investigation of his three sanctioned officials is a mere ploy to cover-up and deceive only himself.

“I strongly urge the President to therefore dismiss the designated persons, and formally request the assistance of the United States Government to prosecute them in keeping with Liberian law,” Cummings declared. “This is not the time for bogus suspensions, coverups, and fake investigations.” 

While commending the US Government for helping to expose and punish officials of the Weah administration for the increasing wave of stealing and abuse of public office, Cummings cautioned, that the US Government cannot continue to do for Liberia, what Liberians ought to do for our country.

He expressed support for the US Ambassador’s assertion that Liberians, currently being victimized by these acts of corruption, will now feel empowered to peacefully “stand up against corruption and resolve to say no more”. 

“It is time for real change and serious leadership in our country. It is time to stop this lack of accountability in our country,” Cummings declared.

“No more must Liberians accept past wrongs to justify the continuation of wrongs, or fear our government to accept the wrongs of public officials, or believe we are powerless to challenge the excesses of government, whose duty is to set higher moral standards of leadership and good examples.” 

He said for too long, few Liberians have continued to acquire massive illegal wealth, while the vast majority are hungry; teachers, nurses, doctors, and civil servants are grossly underpaid, hospitals without medicine and beds, and high unemployment, especially among youths.

Cummings said the country's wealth and resources belonged to all Liberians and not just a few or some officials in government, noting that it's offensive for officials to steal and publicly boast of stealing from the downtrodden masses to give back to them.

The ANC political leader assured that under his administration, there will be zero tolerance for officials accused of stealing or misappropriating public resources. 

Cummings said prosecuting public officials for corruption and ensuring justice without discrimination, is the surest way to change Liberia, and lift the vast majority out of extreme poverty.

Meanwhile, Cumming noted that Weah has acquired massive wealth and access, after declaring to a United States Court, that he was indigent and incapable of meeting his father's responsibility to a mother and daughter in 2016.