By Monrovia, Liberia- According to reports, President George Weah of Liberia has taken exception to the growing sanctions imposed by the United States on key officials of the country due to widespread corruption and violations of human rights. These officials include the President Pro-Temporal of the Liberian Senate, the Minister of Finance, and other prominent figures. The Liberian leader responded to this by outlawing the export of raw rubber from the country and accusing others of mismanaging and stealing the country’s resources, especially rubber.
124th EXECUTIVE ORDER.
After receiving a 99-year lease for a million acres (to be used wherever in Liberia by the firm) at a cost of 6 cents per acre from the government of Liberia in 1926, an American company named Firestone set out to construct plantations of the non-native South American rubber tree. Due to allegations of graft, the US imposed sanctions on two senators from Liberia and Samuel Tweah, the country’s finance minister. According to a statement, Tweah, Senators Albert Chie and Emmanuel Nuquay, and the Treasury were all singled out for their roles in “significant corruption by abusing their public positions.
The sanctions come as a response to allegations that the three allegedly abused their public positions by soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes to manipulate legislative processes and public funding. The US also sanctioned Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee over the weekend for human rights abuses and corruption. The new sanctions are an additional headache for the outgoing Weah Government.
The three are accused of abusing their official positions by soliciting, accepting, and providing bribes in order to influence legislative procedures and public financing. These accusations have prompted the imposition of fines. For violating human rights and being corrupt, the US also censured Jefferson Koijee, the mayor of Monrovia City, over the weekend. The incoming Weah Government has more work ahead of it due to the new sanctions.
By: Alphanso G. Kalama
