U.S imposes life ban on sanctioned Liberian officials and family members; former presidential candidate, Gongloe, hails move.

The United States (U.S) embassy in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, has disclosed that all Liberian officials sanctioned for alleged corruption by the U.S. government will be banned for life from entering the United States. The embassy statement said the ban would also cover all family members of the sanctioned officials.

This latest statement was reiterated by the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S embassy in Monrovia, Catherine Rodriguez. She also called on the Joseph Boakai administration to prioritise the fight against corruption, saying it is paramount to the Liberian people, many of whom are eager to see those involved in or accused of corruption or human rights violations, prosecuted.

The U.S. government, in its sanctions, had accused several officials of the outgoing President George Weah’s government for their alleged roles in corruption. The latest in the list is the country’s finance minister, Samuel. D. Tweah, Jnr.,  Senate Pro-Tempore Senator Albert Tugbe Chie, and Senator Emmanuel Nuquay.

They were accused of abusing their public positions by soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes to manipulate legislative processes and public funding, including legislative reporting and mining sector activity

U.S government’s official statement said that under Section 7031(c) [of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023] the United States is publicly designating Tweah, Chie, and Nuquay, for their involvement in significant corruption.

The U.S. had earlier sanctioned Margibi County Senator-elect Nathaniel McGill, River Cess County Senator-elect Bill Twehway, and former Solicitor General Cllr. Saymah Syrenius Cephus.

Other sanctioned officials are Nimba Senator Prince Y. Johnson and Grand Cape Mount Senator Varney G. Sherman.

Reacting to the news of the ban, Minister Tweah said his malicious detractors and propagandists have finally succeeded against him.

The sanctioned Liberian official addressed a press conference on Thursday, 14 December, at the Ministry of Gender Conference Room in Monrovia.

“I have invited you here today to respond to the U.S. Department of State’s imposition of visa restriction on me, Senate Pro-Tempore Senator Albert Tugbe Chie, Senator Emmanuel Nuquay,” he said.

Minister Tweah said, “The propagandists and malicious detractors who had sustained against me when I became Minister of Finance in 2018, a prolonged campaign of lies, misinformation, propaganda, and disinformation have finally succeeded.”

He lamented that their respective lifetime reputation was summarily impaired by dint of alleged misinformation and false allegations given to a powerful country.

Mr. Tweah further indicated that the above verdict against them and their respective families is unbelievably unjust, unfair, and a fundamental violation of their rights.

“As a Minister of Finance and Development Planning, I have never abused of … position through ‘soliciting, accepting and offering bribes to manipulate legislative processes and public funding, including legislative reporting and mining sector activities,” Tweah insisted.

“I have never done so whether in dealings with the National Legislature or in dealings with any other branches or institutions of the Government of Liberia or with private sector actors,” Minister Tweah added.

Reacting to the news of the life ban, former Liberian presidential candidate Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe lauded the U.S government through its Treasury Department for sanctioning Liberian officials, saying it’s Liberia’s best Christmas gift.

“I read about the sanctioning of government officials, this is the best Christmas gift that’s laudable because past governments, including the current government, have shown no interest and willingness to combat corruption,” said Cllr. Gongloe.

The Liberian People’s Party (LPP) former presidential candidate addressed a team of journalists in Monrovia Thursday, 14 December when he described the US Sanctions as a major international assistance given to the people of Liberia.

According to Cllr. Gongloe, corruption undermines the rights of the people.

Due to corruption, he said food production, road networks, and health facilities are down, and those are things that are connected to the survival of human beings.

He thanked the United States government for sanctioning the Liberian officials because this would serve as a clear notice to the incoming government that you can’t engage in corruption by stealing the people’s money and go scot-free.

According to him, the decision of the United States government through its Treasury Department to have imposed sanctions on officials here is a great assistance given to the people of Liberia.