Minneapolis, MN, USA – The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) has applauded the Liberian government for its decision to prosecute former officials of the Weah administration for alleged acts of public corruption. ALJA believes the indictment of former Minister Samuel Tweah of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, former Solicitor General Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, former Director-General Stanley Ford of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), former Comptroller D. Moses P. Cooper of the FIA, and former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh by the Monrovia City Court on multiple charges, including economic sabotage, theft/illegal disbursement of public funds, and criminal facilitation/conspiracy, demonstrates the Liberian government’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.
In a press release issued on July 30, 2024, ALJA expressed hope that prosecuting the accused former officials would help minimize the abuse of power and limit the exploitation of official positions for personal gain. The Association believes this move will deter future acts of corruption by public officials. ALJA stated that for too long, the culture of impunity has eroded integrity in the public sector and contributed to the massive looting of state resources by some public officials. The Association hopes that the indictment and impartial trial of the accused will signal the dawn of an era of accountability, good governance, and the rule of law in Liberia.
At the same time, ALJA applauds the decision of the Liberia National Police (LNP) to reopen investigations into the mysterious death of the former Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), Emmanuel Barthan Nyeswa. In 2020, Nyeswa died at his home in Monrovia under mysterious circumstances. The Weah administration’s autopsy report claimed that Nyeswa died after falling from the second-floor balcony of his home and recommended further investigation by the police.
On July 23, 2024, police authorities in Monrovia announced they had reopened the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Nyeswa’s death, nearly four years after the incident. ALJA believes that the decision by the LNP to reopen the investigation manifests the Liberian government’s dedication and commitment to ensuring justice, accountability, public safety, and respect for human rights. The Association says the probe would further reaffirm the Liberian government’s commitment to reinstating public trust in law enforcement, the judicial system, and other government institutions. ALJA stated, “Liberians need to be assured that authorities are competent and diligent in protecting their lives and welfare.”
The ALJA press release, signed by the Association’s Officer-In-Charge (OIC), Joey Kennedy, also called on the LNP to institute similar probes into the suspicious deaths of internal auditors Albert Peters, Gifty Lama, and George B. Fahnbutu of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and Melvin Earley, Bobby Manneh, and Amanda Nebo of the Executive Protection Services (EPS), Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), and the Liberian National Police (LNP), among others, who also died under suspicious circumstances in the country.
Mr. Kennedy said, “ALJA believes that an impartial investigation of the causes of these mysterious deaths will not only help prevent future incidents but also lead to the unearthing and prosecution of the perpetrators of the murders, ensuring social stability and preventing the spread of rumors and misinformation.”
Additionally, ALJA has described as despicable and unacceptable the recent threat issued by Assistant Internal Affairs Minister for Urban Affairs, Mike Jabateh, against Montserrado County District-10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah. Jabateh allegedly threatened to bring in mercenaries to kill Kolubah if he did not refrain from insulting President Joseph Boakai. ALJA calls for the government to immediately launch a full-scale investigation into the matter, emphasizing that Liberia is a country of laws and not men; thus, such threats cannot be made with impunity.
ALJA is a conglomeration of current and retired Liberian journalists residing in the Americas. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1998 with the objectives of advancing press freedom through media capacity building and fostering good governance in Liberia through media advocacy.
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