Liberia: CENTAL Calls on LACC to Prosecute Sanctioned Officials
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has urged the Liberian Government, through the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and other relevant state institutions, to seek the assistance of the U.S. Government in conducting timely and credible investigations, as well as prosecutions, of current and former government officials who have been sanctioned or designated by the President Joe Biden administration.
This move, which is per due process, CENTAL said is crucial in ensuring that those responsible for the alleged wrongdoing, especially siphoning state resources and abuse of power, are held accountable for their actions, the corruption watchdog said in a statement last week.
In what seems to be another crackdown on corruption in the country, the U.S. Treasury Department on December 11, 2023, designated Samuel D. Tweah, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, and Senators Albert Chie and J. Emmanuel Nuquay under Executive Order 13818 for their alleged involvement in corruption. Additionally, on December 8, 2023, Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee was similarly designated by the U.S. Government for alleged human rights violations and corruption.
The designations of these top officials come as part of ongoing efforts by the US government to combat graft and hold accountable those responsible for undermining the rule of law and misusing public resources. In addition to these officials, their spouses and minor children have also been designated for sanctions.
The US government’s decision to target these individuals and their families is a strong signal that corruption and abuse of public office will not be tolerated. This move follows the previous sanctions imposed on six other high-ranking officials during the George Weah administration for similar offenses, including acts of corruption, abuse of power, and human rights abuses.
They include former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs (President George Weah’s Chief of Office Staff), Nathaniel McGill; Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson; Grand Cape Mount County Senator Varney Sherman; former National Port Authority (NPA) Managing Director Bill Twehway; former Solicitor General Syrenius Cephus; and Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee were put under US sanctions.
In its press statement last week, CENTAL expressed deep concern regarding the alleged involvement of those high-profile government officials in corruption and human rights abuses, while commending the US for the move.
“We appreciate the strong commitment of the U.S. Government and other development partners in supporting efforts to uphold democracy, fight corruption, and address other crimes and abuses in Liberia,” CENTAL, the national chapter of Transparency International (TI), a global corruption watchdog, said. “We want to urge our development partners to continue taking decisive actions against individuals believed to have violated human rights, engaged in corruption, and undermined the country’s democracy.”
The organization calls on all well-meaning Liberians to join efforts in demanding that the Liberian Government promptly and credibly prosecute individuals accused of corruption in the country.
The sanctions imposed by the U.S. underscore its commitment to holding individuals accountable for corrupt practices and human rights abuses worldwide. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen stated that these sanctions reaffirm the United States’ dedication to promoting respect for human rights and ensuring that perpetrators are held responsible.