…MOVEE Condemns Kemayah’s Arrest
By G Bennie Bravo Johnson, I
In a blistering condemnation of the Unity Party-led administration, the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) Thursday, decried the arrest of its Political Leader, Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., as an outright act of political repression, branding the move as a calculated attempt to muzzle the opposition and undermine democratic space in Liberia.
Ambassador Kemayah was arrested early Thursday, June 26, by heavily armed officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP), who encircled his residence in a scene MOVEE described as reminiscent of authoritarian regimes. The party maintains that the charges levied against its leader—ranging from economic sabotage to theft of property—are nothing more than a smokescreen designed to discredit a formidable political figure who has remained a vocal critic of the ruling establishment.
The former Foreign Minister’s arrest is linked to an ongoing probe into the alleged misappropriation of humanitarian rice donated in 2023 by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, which was intended for disaster-stricken Liberians. Authorities claim that thousands of bags of rice were diverted under Kemayah’s watch—allegations the party has dismissed as baseless and politically timed.
In a statement released Thursday, MOVEE Secretary-General Jeremiah Paye lambasted the administration for weaponizing state institutions against political dissent. “This government is terrified of real opposition,” Paye declared. “They’ve chosen to arrest Ambassador Kemayah just days after we graduated over 40 women from our empowerment program. This is a cowardly attempt to derail our grassroots movement.”
Paye went further, labeling the arrest “a reckless abuse of power” that undermines democratic values and exposes the Unity Party’s growing intolerance for divergent voices. “They’re not fighting corruption—they’re fighting competition,” he added. “This is political persecution, plain and simple.”
Kemayah, known for his diplomatic accomplishments and growing support base among youth and marginalized communities, has recently led a resurgence of MOVEE’s political activity, including sweeping vocational and empowerment programs across Monrovia and its suburbs. The timing of his arrest, MOVEE argues, is no coincidence.
“This is not about rice. This is about silencing a leader who empowers his people,” Paye emphasized. “Kemayah is the people’s champion, and we will resist any attempt to silence him.”
MOVEE cautioned that the high-profile arrest, especially in the absence of a fair and transparent process, could signal a dangerous precedent of selective justice.
Also arrested in connection to the case were former GSA Director-General Mary T. Broh and Henry O. Williams, Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency. All three face prosecution as part of a broader anti-corruption push that critics say is increasingly being used to target political adversaries.
Meanwhile, former Foreign Minister Maxwell Kemayah, along with Madam Mary Broh, and Thelma Duncan Sawyer, were released from Monrovia Central Prison on Thursday after securing human sureties. The charges against them are classified as bailable offenses.
Under Liberian law, a surety acts as a guarantor, ensuring that the accused adheres to bail conditions and appears in court for trial. If the defendants fail to comply, their sureties could face financial penalties or forfeiture of pledged assets.
