-Amid CDC’s Headquarters Construction Effort
MONROVIA – Liberia’s immediate former President and Political Leader of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), George Manneh Weah, is scheduled to return to the country today following a major trip abroad. His arrival at Roberts International Airport (RIA) is anticipated to draw massive crowds, as party officials have mobilized scores of supporters to ensure an exceptional welcome for the former football star-turned-politician.
The elaborate welcome plans were orchestrated by the party’s national leadership. Last week, CDC National Chairman Janga A. Kowo issued a formal rallying cry to the party’s entire structure, addressing executives, members of the CDC Legislative Caucus, former government officials, stakeholders, and rank-and-file partisans. In his communication, Chairman Kowo explicitly requested their presence at the Roberts International Airport at 2:00 PM to give their Political Leader what he termed a “rousing welcome.”
Weah’s return is strategically timed to coincide with a period of significant activity and challenge for the opposition party. His arrival is expected to blend with the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony for the CDC’s new national headquarters, a project born from necessity after the controversial demolition of its previous home in Congo Town last month.
In direct response to the eviction, the CDC, under Weah’s direction, immediately established a “Special National Headquarters Delivery Committee.” This committee has been tasked with the urgent mission of overseeing the immediate construction of a new, modern party office, framing the project as a testament to the party’s resilience.
The announcement of the committee was made in an official statement from Weah himself, in which he condemned the eviction in the strongest possible terms. He labeled the government’s action a “criminal act” and a “testament of the Unity Party government’s gross disregard for the rule of law.” Striking a careful balance, he simultaneously urged his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding in the face of what he characterized as provocation.
Weah strategically framed the rebuilding initiative as evidence of the CDC’s proactive, builder mentality, which he directly contrasted with the Boakai administration, whom he accusatorially labeled “destroyers.” In his statement, Weah sought to reassure his base, declaring, “The loss of our office building is a setback, but I want to emphasize that it is only temporary,” and confirming the committee’s mandate to build a “modern, state-of-the-art new home in record time.”
This physical rebuilding initiative will be paired with a political mobilization effort in the form of a national tour. Weah emphasized that the party’s true strength is not tied to a physical structure but resides in its supporters, stating, “The unity, strength, and identity of our Party and coalition are not found in bricks and mortar. They live in the minds, hearts, and fighting spirit of our teeming supporters.”
The eviction on Saturday, August 23, 2025, remains a point of intense controversy. The pre-dawn operation, authorized by a court writ, was carried out by sheriffs backed by a heavy security presence. Weah has alleged that the Liberia National Police acted on “direct instructions from Boakai himself” before the legal battle over the property’s ownership was “fully exhausted,” accusing the government of being “emboldened by impunity.”
The legal situation is complex. While Liberia’s Supreme Court had recently upheld the eviction order, it also reshaped the core ownership dispute by ruling that the property must be properly probated to determine the rightful heirs from the estate of the late original owner. The CDC had filed new legal appeals just before the demolition, arguing the eviction should be halted pending these new proceedings, but police proceeded with the court-ordered operation.
Marking the official start of the high-stakes rebuilding effort, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) National Headquarters Construction Committee held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. The committee is chaired by the influential former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, and the meeting demonstrated strong commitment, with the majority of its twenty-three members present in person and others joining via Zoom.
To finance this ambitious project, the CDC has launched a major national and international fundraising campaign. The effort is being coordinated by the construction committee, which has officially opened channels for both financial and material contributions from partisans, sympathizers, and well-wishers across Liberia and the diaspora.
The committee has provided extensive details for donations. Domestically, individuals can contribute through designated United Bank for Africa (UBA) accounts or via mobile money services including MTN MoMo, Orange Money, and TIP-ME. For the sizable CDC diaspora community, the committee has also provided detailed international wire transfer instructions through Citibank New York, with plans to soon roll out additional options like Zelle and CashApp to broaden the contribution base.
