Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. says the opposition’s gathering in Zwedru marks the beginning of discussions with Liberians ahead of the 2029 general elections.
Speaking shortly after arriving in Zwedru city on Friday, Tweah described the event as a national convergence, saying supporters from across the country had gathered to hear from three opposition leaders.
“This is a convergence of the entire country, a convergence of three opposition leaders to begin the real process of having a hard discussion with my brave people about 2029,” Tweah said.
Beyond the political message, the former finance minister defended the infrastructure record of the administration of former President George Weah.
He argued that the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)-led government secured the financing that made several ongoing road and electricity projects possible.
“Before the Unity Party, it was the CDC that started the road. The construction and financing of the road were done by the CDC,” he said. I have said many times that we secured the financing for this entire road network. I was the Minister of Finance.”
Tweah also sought to clarify previous comments about infrastructure financing, saying his statements referred to the government’s role in negotiating funding rather than personally authorizing expenditures.
According to him, the Weah administration negotiated about US$90 million in financing for the electricity sector, and that funding framework remains in place.
“When we said we secured financing for the electricity sector, it did not necessarily mean that I personally signed off on it. The financing was negotiated under President Weah, and the Ministry of Finance handled the process. The framework established by the CDC continues to support both electricity and road projects,” he said.
He further argued that the current administration is continuing projects financed under the previous government and challenged it to secure new funding for major infrastructure works.
“Let the American government begin new financing for the 12th Street to Somalia Drive road, then we can begin the respect game. As long as you are still using the financing framework established under George Weah, you remain in his shadow,” the former Finance Minister said.
Tweah’s remarks came as opposition leaders gathered in Zwedru for what supporters described as the start of broader political engagement ahead of the 2029 elections.
The Unity Party had not publicly responded to his comments at the time of publication.
