MONROVIA: Since the now 7-month old administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai began its fight against corruption, some stalwarts of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), have been resisting the probe of some of its key officials linked to involvement in acts of corruption in the country.
Following the indictment of some former government officials of CDC-led administration, CDC National Chairman, Atty. Janga Kowo, described the government’s declared anti-corruption war as a ‘witch hunt,’ which he said, has the potential to undermine the peace and security of Liberia.
Chairman Kowo has also decried as the ‘mass dismissals and suspension’ of people, including many members of the erstwhile ruling party who were previously appointed to various tenure positions in government.
Few days ago, former President George Manneh Weah, who is also the political leader of the CDC criticized the current government’s actions, characterizing the entire of process as ‘weaponization’ of the country’s justice system.
Ex-President Weah urged incumbent President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his Administration to desist from targeting CDC officials who served in previous government for alleged acts of corruption. Ex-President Weah, in a recent statement, indicated CDC’s determination and resolve to politically and legally resist the Government’s actions, which he said, are intended to undermine the peace of the country.
Howbeit, drama ensued yesterday, August 21, 2024, at the State-owned Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) Head offices situated at Old Road, Oldest Congo Town.
Reports say Margibi County Senator, Nathaniel Farlo McGill, and his legal team went to the LACC based on his invitation by the Commission.
However, when LACC investigators began critically questioning the former Presidential Affairs Minister, who is also former Chief of Office Staffs of former President George Manneh Weah, he and his legal team decided to walk out of the LACC investigative hearings.
Senator McGill later confirmed to reporters that his visit to the LACC was in relations to an invitation sent him by the LACC to assist with ongoing investigation bordering claims of payroll padding and other acts of corruption.
Other CDC officials who are also former state officials seen at the LACC yesterday include former Deputy Finance Minister for Fiscal Affairs, Dr. Samora P. Z. Wolokolie; former Justice Minister, Cllr. Frank Musah Dean; and former National Security Advisor to former President George Manneh Weah, Jefferson Karmoh.
Prior to their unceremonious departure from the LACC, the acting Chairman of the CDC Youth League, Alvin Wesseh, who is also former Assistant Minister of Agriculture, sounded a warning that members of the CDC Youth League would remain at the LACC to support the chairman of the CDC Progressive National Caucus.
Wesseh’s comments were in apparent reaction to demand by the Liberia National Police (LNP), for CDCians to vacate the LACC vicinity.
Mr. Wesseh contended that the LNP was reducing itself to a partisan police overtime, when peaceful Liberians gathered to exercise their constitutional rights.
He indicated that members of the CDC Youth League would go nowhere until the ex-ruling party official invited exited the LACC premises.
He accused the police of being used by stooges of the Boakai-led administration, urging the police to stop molesting peaceful citizens as the CDC is not targeting the police.
“I can tell you that we can never be intimidated by the police. If you will be used as partisan police, we can assure you that we will take another step forward to cause stampede across the entire country,” he threatened.
“Let say this, we saw you at the CDC Headquarters, we saw you at the RIA upon the arrival of former President George Weah, and we saw you at the Capitol Building when peaceful citizens and partisans of the CDC gathered. But, let me assure you we’re not moving a step until chairman McGill has exited this place,” Wesseh declared.
“We will not move a step as we are peaceful citizens exercising our constitutional rights,” Alvin Wesseh acting Chair of the CDC Youth League stated.
Wesseh’s statement prompted the police to dispatch more LNP officers to the grounds of the LACC in case of any eventuality as Senator Nathaniel McGill was still being questioned by LACC investigators.
The visit of Senator McGill and his team of lawyers followed a communication to him, dated August 19, 2024, for him to avail himself for questioning in connection to an alleged ‘payroll padding’, while he served as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs.
However, tension is still high in Monrovia as the issue of dismissed former officers of elite Executive Protection Service, Liberia National Police and other state institutions are still unresolved.
