The World Food Programme (WFP) has come under scrutiny for its continued silence and lack of public accountability regarding the management of Liberia’s US$30 million COVID-19 Household Food Support Program (COHFSP), amid growing public uneasiness and allegations of mismanagement.
Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah is now urging the Liberian government to launch a formal investigation into WFP’s handling of the stimulus funds.
At a press conference held in Congo Town on Friday, July 4, 2025, Tweah challenged the narrative implicating him in the alleged misuse of the funds and instead turned attention to the UN agency.
“Why Is WFP Silent?” Tweah Asks
Tweah questioned the WFP’s lack of public engagement on the matter, suggesting that its silence is both unusual and concerning given the scale of the funds involved and the political storm surrounding their use.
“WFP received and spent the full US$30 million allocated for COVID-19 food distribution,” Tweah said. “Yet they have remained conspicuously silent while false accusations are being directed at me and some former government officials. Where is their accountability?”
According to Tweah, the Liberian government secured US$25 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and another US$5 million from the World Bank through the Ministry of Agriculture’s STAR-P project.
He among other things stated that the funds were transferred directly to WFP accounts for implementation of the COHFSP, bypassing all domestic agencies and ministries.
“I fully supported this arrangement,” he said. “It removed the possibility of government involvement or misappropriation. But if we’re going to talk about transparency, WFP must now speak. What did they do with the money?”
Unreturned Funds and Unanswered Questions
Tweah cited official records indicating that by July 2022, WFP had reported spending US$23.8 million of the allocated funds, leaving a balance of over US$2 million.
He alleged that as of the end of the former CDC administration, these remaining funds had not been returned to the Government of Liberia or the World Bank.
A turnover note from the Department of Economic Management, he said, documented the outstanding funds and pending reimbursements-yet WFP has provided no public explanation or timeline for resolving the issue.
Controversy over Fund Reallocation
Tweah also raised concerns over the recent reallocation of US$234,350-20% of the leftover COVID-19 funds-for school feeding programs, a move reportedly approved by the current Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuah.
Tweah also claimed he had rejected the same request from WFP in 2023, citing potential political misuse during an election year.
“It’s ironic,” he said. “I rejected the reallocation, yet I’m being targeted for allegedly misusing these funds. WFP asked for this shift in funding. If they got approval under the current administration, why aren’t they the subject of the investigation?”
Calls for Transparency and Legal Action
Tweah also announced plans to sue Spoon Network former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the lead presenter of the Spoon Nighttime Talk Show Mr. Stanton Witherspoon, whom he accused of spreading false information about his alleged arrest over the COVID-19 fund.
The former Finance Minister described the alleged media attacks on his person as a coordinated attempt to defame him and other officials from the previous administration.
“We cannot continue to fight corruption with lies,” he said. “WFP must come forward and clarify how these funds were used. Their silence only deepens the suspicion.”
WFP Yet to Respond
As of publication, the World Food Programme has not issued a formal response to Tweah’s allegations or provided an updated breakdown of the stimulus fund’s expenditure.
Tweah insisted that if Liberia is to pursue truth and accountability, it must begin with a transparent audit of the UN agency’s role in managing the COVID-19 food assistance program.
