The Civil Society Groups in Liberia are publicly soliciting 200 signatures to petition President George Manneh Weah for the immediate dismissal of U.S. designated sanctions government officials who were suspended.
The National Civil Society Council of Liberia in it’s petition also stated that Corruption has long undermined Liberia’s democracy and its economy, robbing the Liberian people of funds for public services, empowering illicit actors, degrading the business environment, damaging the rule of law and eroding the effective governance in the country. Corruption contributes to diminished citizens’ confidence in government and the public space and promotes impunity.
“This is why you need to sign this petition to call on the President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. George M. Weah to take some concrete steps beyond the suspension to save the image of the government from this embarrassment and ensure public trust by dismissing, prosecuting, and confiscating of ill-acquired properties or wealth and barring of said officials from participating in political affairs and governance of the state.” The National Civil Society Council of Liberia started.
It may be recalled, that on Tuesday, August 16, President George Weah suspended three designated senior Liberian government officials.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Weah received with serious concern, a recent United States Treasury Department report which designates three of his officials for specialized sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act.
The Executive Mansion statement issued Tuesday, August 16, 2022, also noted that President Weah views the allegations against the officials contained in the report as grave charges. .
“In view of this, President George Weah has suspended the named officials, Minister of State Nathaniel McGill, the Managing Director of the National Port Authority Bill Twehway, and Solicitor General Seyma Syrennius Cephus with immediate effect to enable them to face investigation. The President has also designated the principal deputies of the suspended officials to act in their stead.” the release stated.
The suspension of the public officials by President Weah, followed Monday’s, August 15, 2022, designation by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Liberian government officials Nathaniel McGill, Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and Bill Twehway for their involvement in ongoing public corruption in Liberia. These officials are designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 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.
On the heels of those action of by the Weah’s administration in adherence to the sanctions, yesterday, Thursday, August 18, multiple sources at various commercial Banks hinted noted that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), has ordered the blocking of the financial accounts of the designated persons.
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