Koung Denies CDC Claim He Is Sabotaging Grand Gedeh Anniversary

Published: June 24, 2026

MONROVIA – Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung has denied opposition accusations that he is working to undermine the Congress for Democratic Change’s 22nd anniversary celebration in Grand Gedeh County, dismissing the charge as baseless even as the party escalated the dispute by alerting foreign embassies and regional bodies.

The exchange opened Monday when CDC National Chairman Atty. Janga Augustus Kowo told a news conference in Monrovia that Koung was fueling political tension in Grand Gedeh through Senator Zoe Emmanuel Pennue and trying to stop the party from holding its planned celebration in Zwedru.

Koung’s office responded in a statement on its official Facebook page, rejecting the allegations. “The Office wishes to clarify that these claims are inaccurate and without basis,” the statement said. “We encourage the CDC to focus on its own organizational arrangements rather than attribute logistical challenges or attendance to the Vice President.”

The office said the planning, coordination and execution of political events rest with the parties themselves, and that Koung played no part in any decisions on attendance, logistics or program delivery for the celebration. “Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung remains committed to Liberia’s multiparty democracy and respects the constitutional rights of all political parties and citizens to assemble and participate freely,” it said.

At the news conference, Kowo said the party had formally taken its concerns to several international partners and diplomatic missions, framing the dispute as a test of political tolerance in Liberia. “The communication has been transmitted to the United States Embassy, the European Union Delegation, the United Nations, ECOWAS, the African Union, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Ghana, the Mano River Union, and other democratic partners,” Kowo said.

The party’s action was prompted by what it called disturbing reports from Grand Gedeh involving attempts to reverse previously approved arrangements for the event, he said. Scheduled under the theme “Zwedru Rises: 2029 Victory is the Final Destination,” the celebration is meant to mark the party’s 22nd anniversary while serving as a platform for mobilization.

Kowo argued that the matter had grown beyond a quarrel over a venue. “This situation now goes beyond a disagreement over a public venue and raises broader questions,” he said. “The issue is whether opposition political parties can freely organize, assemble and conduct lawful activities without political interference.” The party maintained that political organizations should enjoy equal protection under the law and equal access to public facilities regardless of affiliation.

Koung’s office said the vice president remained focused on supporting President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s development agenda and on national unity, rather than partisan disputes. “The Office of the Vice President extends best wishes to the CDC for a successful anniversary and encourages all political actors to carry out their activities peacefully and responsibly,” the statement said.

The dispute comes as political attention turns increasingly toward the climate for opposition activity ahead of future electoral contests, with both the CDC and the government professing commitment to democratic engagement.