-Is George Weah Next?
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Court “A” in Montserrado County has granted the government’s Assets & Property Retrieval Task Force a subpoena compelling the Clar Hope Foundation to produce all records of its funding and construction. The order, signed by Presiding Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, commands the foundation’s management to appear in court on January 23, 2026, with detailed donor lists, contribution amounts, and financial documents.
The Foundation, established by former First Lady Clar Marie Weah in June 2018—the same year her husband assumed the presidency—has since vehemently rejected the investigation. In a statement in November of last year, it denounced the probe as a “politically motivated” attack designed to “malign the hard-earned reputation of Mrs. Weah” and cloud her humanitarian legacy.
Clar Hope Foundation is ordered to produce copies of records pertaining to: • All funds received from individuals and government institutions for the construction of the foundation. • A complete list of institutions that made donations towards the construction, including the amounts contributed. • The specific amounts presented to the foundation. • The locations, telephone numbers, and addresses of all contributing parties.
The state is seeking clarity on how the organization financed its building projects. Clar Hope Foundation has not yet commented on the court’s action. Following the publication of the court’s mandate by several media outlets, Mrs. Clar Weah posted via her Facebook page: “CHF- City of Hope Academy Building the future today, be a part of our journey by donating to the Clar Hope Foundation. We are located in Marshall Margibi County Liberia West Africa. Our doors are open to receiving learning and teaching materials, food items, toys, tablets, etc.”
However, opposition figures view the court order as a political witch hunt. Former representative Acarous Moses Gray called it a “deadly political witch hunt and calamity of bitterness” from the Boakai regime, questioning in a Facebook post if the goal was to “take Hope Foundation and give it to his wife.” In November of last year, Criminal Court “A” commanded the Building Material Center (BMC) to produce all financial and contractual records concerning its work on the Clar Hope Foundation. The court issued the subpoena following a formal petition from the government’s Assets & Property Retrieval Task Force, which is investigating the foundation for potential financial irregularities.
The court’s order, signed by Clerk Gabriel J. Smith, specifically demands that BMC’s General Manager, CEO, and shareholders appear before Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie on November 27, 2025. They were required to carry the complete construction contract, all payment vouchers and checks, official receipts, the Bill of Quantities, and every other document related to the project’s development and financing.
In a statement released on November 26, 2025, the Foundation expressed being “taken aback” by the move, framing it as an assault on Mrs. Weah’s lifelong humanitarian commitment to uplifting Liberian children and vulnerable communities. “It is disheartening that her genuine commitment and years of humanitarian service are now being clouded by baseless insinuations simply because some cannot conceive that a person would invest so much of her own resources to improve the lives of others,” the statement read.
It criticized the investigation’s premise, arguing it is being asked to “provide evidence for acts that never occurred” rather than the government first verifying its own financial records. It labeled the action “politically motivated” and designed to “malign the hard-earned reputation of Mrs. Weah.”
The statement pointed to what it called a pattern of intimidation, citing past “directives discouraging officials from attending its functions” and “punitive actions” against supporters since the Foundation opened last year. Despite the controversy, the Foundation pledged full legal cooperation and transparency. “Consistent with our longstanding practice, the Clar Hope Foundation will make all relevant documents available as required by law and will fully exercise its legal rights throughout this process,” it assured.
Mrs. Weah vowed to vigorously defend her name and the Foundation’s integrity, underscoring that their mission remains unchanged. “Our commitment to providing hope and opportunity to destitute Liberian children remains unwavering,” the statement concluded.
Is George Weah Next?
The investigation into the foundation is widely perceived as a stepping stone toward a direct probe of the former president. Since taking office, the Boakai administration has faced public pressure from his supporters to investigate properties acquired by George Weah during his tenure.
On Thursday, May 22, 2025, Liberia’s Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce’s Chairperson Cllr. Edward Kla Martin disclosed that it had identified thirty properties suspected of being acquired through misappropriated government funds. He made the disclosure during an appearance before the House of Representatives.
Cllr. Kla-Martin He disclosed that the Taskforce is pursuing twenty-eight active cases involving a diverse range of subjects, including business institutions, corporate entities, private individuals, and both current and former government officials. “These cases represent a systematic looting of state resources,” Martin stated emphatically during the hearing. “After months of painstaking investigation, we have gathered sufficient evidence linking these properties to illicitly obtained government funds.”
The investigations form part of AREPT’s comprehensive lifestyle audit program, which employs forensic accounting methods to examine the wealth accumulation patterns of public officials. This process involves comparing officials’ known legal income against their declared assets and expenditures, with any significant discrepancies triggering further investigation.
Forensic auditors are examining multiple aspects of subjects’ financial lives, including property acquisitions that appear disproportionate to legitimate earnings. Investigators are particularly focused on high-value real estate purchases made during subjects’ terms in public office. The audit process also scrutinizes business interests and investments that may have been used to launder stolen funds or conceal illicit wealth.
Additionally, this process will include the review of the financial activities of family members and close associates, as corrupt officials often use relatives as proxies to hide assets. A crucial component of the investigation involves verifying the legitimate sources of income used to acquire suspicious properties and other assets.
Birth of Clar Hope Foundation:
Founded in June 2018, by the firm First Lady of the Republic of Liberia, Clar Hope Foundation is a non-political initiative aspiring to create an equitable society in Liberia where women, children, youth, and the elderly are healthy, educated, and fully empowered to lead an independent and prosperous life. The year of the institution’s birth has always been assessed as a red flag, considering that it was the same year ex-president George Weah ascended to the presidency.
Mrs. Weah says she embarked on the construction of the City of Hope, a massive modern facility where thousands of less-fortunate Liberians – orphans, street girls, and disadvantaged youth – would
find hope for a better and brighter future and also to restore the hope and dignity of the underprivileged,
The Foundation envisions a Liberia where gender equality is embraced and every underprivileged girl and youth has the opportunity to thrive, lead, and shape their own destiny. It also strives to create a society where all individuals have equal access to education, resources, and opportunities, leading to empowered communities and a brighter future for generations to come.
