Monrovia-Liberia: Due to damaging GAC audit and LACC investigative reports linking past government officials to alleged corruption and financial improprieties, President Joseph Boakai launched a crackdown on these allegations of corruption and abuse of public resources.
Barely 24 hours after his government indicted former senior officials of ex-President George Weah’s administration, including former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, former Solicitor General Nyenati Tuan and former Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh, on charges of economic sabotage, theft, criminal facilitation, criminal conspiracy, misuse of public money among others, President Boakai moved to suspend the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, Mr. Aloysius Tarlue, over what is believed to be a damaging GAC audit report which points to alleged misappropriation, misapplication, and embezzlement.
These actions are however being met with bitterness and resistance from past immediate government of the CDC, with it’s Standard Bearer accusing President Boakai of politicizing justice and weaponizing the justice system.
During a press conference at their Party Headquarters on July 31,2024, CDC Political Leader vowed to resist the Boakai-led administration if he and his party’s commitment to peace is misinterpreted as a sign of weakness.
The former President described the recent action of the government to issue a writ of arrest for former senior officials over allegations of corruption, including confidants of Weah, as a “witch hunt” aimed at derailing peace and undermining CDC’s political strength while at the same time emphasizing the need for the Boakai-led government to implement the recommendations/findings of the GAC and the LACC void of cherry-picking and partiality.
According to him, implementing recommendations from thee audit reports should not be partial, noting that doing so is only intended to target officials of his government thus undermining the political strength of CDC.
CDC Political Leader, George Weah, accused President Boakai of showing clear signs of not respecting the rule of law while pointing to the “forced removal” of officials in tenured positions, including the recent suspension of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Governor, Mr. J. Aloysius Tarlue.
The ex-President however called on the international community, including diplomatic posts and partners, to investigate and prevent potential government violations of the law.
Weah emphasized the importance of maintaining the peace in post-conflict Liberia while at the same time vowing to resist the government if it decides to “jeopardize” the prevailing stability by “targeting” key figures of his party, the Congress for Democratic Change.
Weah urged other opposition political parties to join the CDC in combating “arbitrary and unlawful actions” by the Boakai-led administration.
The former Liberian President claimed that his administration’s decision to grant prosecutorial powers to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) is evidence of his government’s commitment to fight corruption.
He further warned the government of removing CDCians from their posts across various line ministries and agencies. The CDC political leader also accused the government of strangulating foreign service officials appointed by his administration.
