By Amos Harris
Deputy Minister for Public Affairs at the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICAT), Daniel Sando, has sparked a wave of public backlash following a verbal attack on Alexander B. Cummings, the political leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC). The incident occurred during MICAT’s regular press briefing held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
In what political observers have widely condemned as an unprofessional and politically charged outburst, Deputy Minister Sando dismissed Mr. Cummings as a “political dwarf,” claiming the opposition leader’s “height has affected his vision.”
“I pity Mr. Cummings and his handful of followers. In an attempt to revive his perishing political ambition, he has resorted to telling lies and outright dishonesty,” Sando declared. “His assertion that nothing has changed since the inception of the Boakai administration runs contrary to the glaring realities of transformation in various sectors. Cummings is a political dwarf. Apparently, his height has affected his vision optical distortion.”
Sando’s comments, made from the official government podium, have drawn widespread condemnation from members of the public, opposition figures, and civil society groups. Critics view the statement as demeaning and unbecoming of a government official and a gross misuse of a government communication platform.
MICAT is constitutionally tasked with disseminating official government information, not engaging in political attacks. This incident has led many to question the professionalism and neutrality of the ministry.
“This kind of language coming from a deputy minister is disgraceful and beneath the dignity of public service,” stated a political analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity. “MICAT is supposed to communicate government policy, not insult opposition leaders.”
The rhetoric has prompted warnings that such language reflects a worrying rise in political intolerance and personal attacks within Liberia’s political discourse—a trend critics fear could further polarize the nation and undermine democratic dialogue.
Meanwhile, ANC supporters have condemned Sando’s comments as a “desperate attempt to shift public attention” away from the Boakai administration’s mounting economic and governance challenges.
The incident has reignited debate over professional ethics in public communication and the need for political neutrality among state officials. As a result, there are growing calls on President Joseph N. Boakai to take disciplinary action against Sando to preserve the integrity of his administration’s communication machinery.
As of press time, neither the Ministry of Information nor Deputy Minister Sando had issued an apology or clarification regarding the controversial remarks.
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