By Raine Tarka Golegio, Monrovia
One of the opposition political parties in Liberia, Unity Party, has strongly condemned what it calls comestic suspension of Weah’s three cronies and threatened to join efforts with other opposition parties alike to stage mass citizens action for institutionalised corruption often facilitated by the Presidency.
It frowns the mere suspension of the three sanctioned officials and advises Weah to dismiss them and use the evidence from OFAC to facilitate a speedy investigation and subsequent prosecution of the named officials.
The Party’s stance comes in the wake of what it calls Mr. Weah’s seemingly continuous patronage and support for corruption and abuse of public resources by his cronies.
An OFAC report released in Monrovia Monday sanctioned Bill Twehway, Managing Director of the National Port Authority, Seymah Syrenius Cephas, Solicitor General and Nathaniel McGill, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs/Chief of office staff of President Weah.
The President in a release Tuesday announced the suspension of the three officials which the Unity Party believes that the action of the president is cosmetic and clearly indicates his lack of political will to fight corruption.
The Unity Party is convinced that President Weah himself has benefited from the plenty stealing of his lieutenants which is why he has deliberately refused to take stronger actions against his “good friends” caught in the web of series of corruption reports.
“President Weah and his CDC while in opposition campaigned on an anti corruption mantra. The President during his inaugural address promised to end corruption in public service, which is why many Liberians home and abroad cannot fathom why this same man will carelessly, and maliciously try to protect those caught pillaging the resources of the country.
“OFAC’s sanctions on officials very close to the President is grave and shows that Weah cannot fight corruption”, UP says.
The UP therefore calls on the Liberian people, members of all opposition parties, civil society organizations, the media, and other progressive elements to ensure the report is treated with utmost consideration and urgency while pushing the collective interest of Liberians.