…Piah Vows Government Stance on Audit Report
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The Minister of Information, Jerami Piah has sharply responded to allegations of “witch hunt” made by former President George Weah against the Unity Party-led government, stating that the government under the leadership of President Joseph NyumahBoakai is committed to holding people accountable for their stewardship without fear of any threat coming from former President and leader of the Coalitions for Democratic Change.
It can be recalled, that on July 29, the Monrovia City Court issued arrest warrants for five former high-ranking officials of former President Weah’s administration including Samuel D. Tweah, the former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, and Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, the former Acting Minister of Justice on allegations of economic sabotage and misuse of public funds, among other serious offenses.
The warrants were issued following a formal complaint lodged by the Republic of Liberia, by and through the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), accusing the defendants of orchestrating a complex scheme to defraud the government, which allegedly took place in July 2023.
Former President George Manneh Weah took a stance against what he perceives as the weaponization of the justice system by the current administration led by his successor President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. The former President criticized the arrest of several former government officials on charges of corruption, alleging that the Boakai administration is engaging in selective justice for political gain.
The former President warned the Boakai administration against what he described as a “witch hunt” targeting officials from his tenure. Therefore, he vowed to mobilize supporters to oppose the government’s actions.
“We will not stand idly by as the judiciary is used as a tool for political vendettas,” declared Former President Weah. “The CDC will mobilize its supporters to oppose this flagrant abuse of power, and we urge other political parties to join us in solidarity.”
In response to the former President, the Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism Jerolinmek Matthew Piah at the ministry’s regular press briefing, intimated that the government under the leadership of President Joseph NyumahBoakai is not engaging in a “witch-hunt” but committed to holding people accountable for their stewardship. He asserting that accountability is the hallmark of the Boakai’sadministration.
Minister Piah recorded that President Joseph Nyumah Boakaidid not initiate any audit, but respected the existing institutions that are acting under the leadership put in place by his predecessor George Weah. “The president didn’t initiate any special audit. The President thought to respect the existing institution. The leadership structures of these institutions are the same as they were during the previous administration.”
The Information Minister added that the workings of the anti-graph institutions are more professional because of the governance provided by the Boakai administration. “The leadership structures of these institutions are the same but if you look at their output, it is different because of the good governance of President Boakai.”
“The leaderships were appointed by former President George Weah but they did not care about who appointed them. They choose to do their job based on professionalism, nationalism, and patriotism because they now have the leader who is giving them the space.”
In furtherance, the minister recorded that when the former President came to authority, he met approximately sixty audit reports but chose not to act upon them. He added that the former President was presiding over a scam only to enrich himself and his cronies.
He continued by adding that for the former President to denounce an action based on the findings conducted and classified it as a “witch hunt” sends a negative message that should not be coming from a former President.
“But to denounce an action based on findings conducted by these institutions and classified it as a “Witch-hunt” and commit to resist it, sends a terrible message that should not be coming from a former President. Minister Piah said.
He intimated that for the former President to defend people who have just been charged but not guilty, denotes the kind of government he presided over. the government spokesman concluded by asserting that the government under the leadership of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai is not afraid of the threats coming from the former President to resist the implementation of the audit reports.
“When you led the country and had control over the army and police, we did not fear you. Now as former President should we fear you? No! not we as government.” The information minister said.
He therefore concluded by asserting that the government has heard the threats of the former President and is awaiting him. “We have heard your threats and we are awaiting you,” Piahconcluded.