With this warning from the Treasury Department, HPX or High Power Exploration Incorporated, an American company is a privately-owned, U.S.-domiciled mineral exploration and development company, which has focused on the development of the ultra-high-grade Nimba iron ore project in Guinea may likely be affected for its alleged relationship with some Liberian government officials who have been placed on sanctions by the Treasury.
In an exclusive mobile phone interview with the Liberian Attorney General, Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musa Dean as to the warning to American companies operating in Liberia to desist from dealing with officials who have placed on Sanctions, he confirmed of the warning, and said those companies that will refuse to adhered to the Treasury Department, that company should be prepared to face said sanctions.
According to GNN source, HPX has been dealing with some Liberian government officials, many of whom are sanctions designated, why others are said to be noticed by the Treasury Department for their closed relationship with the company, the source further revealed that any American company that is caught in this web, that company will also be hooked by sanctions.
Early August, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Liberian government officials including the Liberian leader, George M. Weah Chief of Staff, Nathaniel McGill, the Solicitor General of Liberia; Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and the Managing Director of the National Port Authority, Bill Twehway for their involvement in ongoing public corruption in Liberia.
According to the designated Treasury Department sanctions, McGill has used his position to undermine the integrity and independence of Liberia’s democratic institutions and subvert government priorities for personal gain. Cephus has developed close relationships with suspects of criminal investigations and has received bribes from individuals in exchange for arranging for their cases to be dropped. Twehway has used his position at the NPA to corruptly advance his own personal wealth and political agenda. All three are being designated pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world.
All three of these individuals have contributed to Liberia’s worsening corruption. These designations reflect our commitment to implementing the United States Strategy on Countering Corruption and to partnering with the Liberian government and people to help the country chart a better course forward.