MONROVIA: The National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL), has strongly condemned what it calls damning remarks made by individuals purported to be supporters of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-led government against United States Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Michael McCarthy.
The purported pro-regime group accused Ambassador McCarthy of meddling into the politics of Liberia and that the top American diplomat is against incumbent Liberian President, George Manneh Weah.
The group also accused the American Ambassador of projecting a climate favorable to opposition political leader, Alexander Benedict Cummings presidency ahead of the 2023 presidential and legislative elections in Liberia.
The anonymous supporters, whose plans were made known on a local talk show, which according to a local daily, Hot Pepper, by Winston Blyden, on Bana F. M., a radio station owned by Montserrado County’s District 15 Representative, Abu Bana Kamara, who contested and won on the ticket of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) said, they were tired with Ambassador McCarthy’s alleged threat posed to the George Weah administration, claiming that the US Envoy is against the Weah government.
They also claimed that the Chinese Government has been doing well for Liberia, unlike the US government, which they say, is responsible for the civil wars that destroyed the Liberian nation and caused the deaths of thousands of people.
However, the National Civil Society Council applauded the Liberian government and the ruling CDC leadership for the issuance of their respective press releases, separately condemning such remarks and for separately distancing themselves from such remarks.
Nevertheless, the NCSCL requested the CDC-led government, through the relevant security institutions to invite the actors to account for their remarks.
The damning remarks by the purported supporters of the Government was made on Bana FM, a local radio station, and was further published on a leading online media platform, Smart News Liberia, under the headline: “We Will Force Him Out Of Liberia – Pro Government Supporters Plan Protest Against U.S. Amb. Michael McCarthy.”
The verbal attacks came on the heel of a warning by the US Government, through its Ambassador, Michael McCarthy, who on Monday, November 14, 2022, cautioned individuals and financial institutions against doing business with former and current sanctioned officials of the Government of Liberia.
It can be recalled that on December 19, 2020, and December 9, 2021, the US Treasury Department sanctioned Nimba County Senator, Prince Yormie Johnson; and Grand Cape Mount County Senator, Varney G. Sherman; under the Global Magnitsky Act for alleged acts of corruption.
On August 15, 2022, the US Ambassador announced similar sanctions of the US Treasury Department against three government officials including Cllr. Syrenius Cephus, Solicitor General of Liberia; Nathaniel McGill, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Office Staff of President George Manneh Weah; and Bill Twehway, Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA).
The three officials, then, were subsequently suspended from their respective positions by President George Weah.
The three sanctioned officials later resigned from their respective portfolios from Government amidst mounting calls from the Liberian public and opposition political leaders for their dismissal or resignation.
In response to the damning remarks made against the US Ambassador, the umbrella organization of all CSOs of Liberia condemned the statement against the country’s traditional allied (USA).
“The National Civil Society Council of Liberia condemns in the strongest terms, recent pronouncement attributed to a group purported to be supporters of the Coalition for Democratic Change and the government regarding a planned protest against the Ambassador of the United States of America Michael McCarthy,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Council encouraged the Government of Liberia to go beyond verbal refutation and kind words and take actions to hold the actors to account.
“There are sufficient identifying elements and means of tracking the purported supporters that the government could employ to invite the actors to account for their remarks,” said the National Civil Society Council.
NCSCL also warned Liberians against “making reckless utterances that could strain Liberia’s diplomatic relations with its governmental counterparts and tarnish the nascent democratic credential of the country.”
The Council also urged the Liberian media not allow their various platforms to be used to broadcast verbal attacks, consistent with the Press Union of Liberia (PUL’s) Code of Ethics but to assist in promoting national peace, security and development.
At the same time, the National Council of Liberia calls on all well-meaning Liberians to join the chorus in condemning the remarks.
The NCSCL release was carved under the signature of NCSCL’s Chairperson, Madam Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai.
Also, the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), in similar reaction to the threat against the Ambassador said, the “Government’s attention has been drawn to story in the online publication SMART NEWS which reports that some have threatened to stage a protest action targeted specifically at U.S. Ambassador Michael McCarthy.”
MICAT said while the “Weah-led administration is an ardent promoter of free speech and freedom of the press, for which it has pushed through legislations to guarantee this fundamental right, there are clear safeguards intended to protect the public’s interest.”
The government, through MICAT “therefore wants to make it categorically clear that it will not condone any such protest and insolent comments, regardless who the organizers are, as its ultimate intention is to incite certain segments of the population for parochial reasons.”
