Published: October 27, 2026
MONROVIA— Rev. Dr. J. Luther Tarpeh has resigned as chairman of Liberia’s Lone Star Mobilization Committee following widespread criticism of his controversial social media remarks targeting supporters of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), a dispute that drew public condemnation from Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah.
Tarpeh, who also serves as national chairman of the ruling Unity Party (UP), announced his resignation in a formal letter dated Oct. 24, 2026, addressed to Liberia Football Association (LFA) President Mustapha Raji, declaring that his decision was effective immediately.
His departure comes weeks after he described some CDC supporters as “mentally deranged” and accused them of displaying a “crab mentality,” comments critics said undermined his responsibility to unite Liberians behind the national football team regardless of political affiliation.
In his resignation letter, Tarpeh described his service as mobilization chairman as a great honor, maintaining that his leadership helped restore public enthusiasm and national support for the Lone Star.
However, he complained of what he characterized as sustained personal attacks following the controversy, alleging that some radio stations devoted hours of programming to insulting him and making offensive references to his deceased mother.
Tarpeh said the criticism had become deeply hurtful and threatened to distract from the committee’s primary objective of rallying national support for the team.
“At this juncture, I refuse to let the personal animosity directed at me become a distraction. If my continued presence in this role would jeopardize the unified rallying efforts required to support the Lone Star, I am glad to step aside for the greater good,” Tarpeh wrote.
The Unity Party chairman also questioned why his political affiliation should disqualify him from supporting Liberia’s national football team.
He maintained that political involvement should not prevent any citizen from contributing to national sporting activities, particularly efforts intended to promote patriotism and unity.
The controversy erupted following Liberia’s 1-0 defeat to Mali in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville.
In a Facebook post initially intended to appreciate Liberians for their massive turnout and encourage continued support for the national team, Tarpeh wrote that “Rome was not built in one day.”
However, the message subsequently shifted toward partisan politics, with the mobilization chairman directing harsh criticism at some supporters of the opposition CDC.
He described them as “mentally deranged” and “crab mentality CDCians” with “detestable reasoning capacity.”
Tarpeh further suggested that, were it not for his relationships with certain CDC members, he would initiate a campaign to “donate” some of the party’s supporters elsewhere so they could “leave our country alone.”
The remarks sparked criticism across political and social circles, with several commentators arguing that the chairman of a national football mobilization committee should promote unity rather than deepen political divisions.
Some critics questioned whether Tarpeh regarded the Lone Star as a team representing all Liberians or as an extension of the ruling Unity Party.
Others accused him of allowing partisan disagreements to overshadow his responsibility to mobilize supporters from across Liberia’s political, religious and social backgrounds.
The controversy intensified when Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah publicly rejected Tarpeh’s comments, stressing that national football must remain above partisan politics.
“As Minister of Youth and Sports, I do not agree with this post,” Minister Kruah wrote. “The role of Mobilization Chair is not meant to be divisive. It should be the bridge between us the politicians and the rest of the citizens who dearly love our Lone Star. This cannot be another CDC vs UP moment.”
Her intervention represented a significant public disagreement between the mobilization chairman and a senior official of the government whose ministry oversees the country’s national sports programs.
The minister’s comments reinforced growing concerns that political hostility could undermine efforts to rebuild public confidence in the Lone Star.
Civil society organizations, including the Center for Peace and Advocacy, subsequently joined calls for Tarpeh’s removal, arguing that football should serve as a unifying force rather than become another platform for political confrontation.
Tarpeh was appointed mobilization chairman in February 2026 to lead efforts to strengthen national support for the Lone Star and mobilize resources for the team’s international competitions.
The committee initially set a fundraising target of US$5 million to support Liberia’s campaign for qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations.
The mobilization effort was later complemented by a Presidential National Team Resource Mobilization Initiative chaired by Minister of State Mamaka Bility, reflecting broader government efforts to strengthen financial and logistical support for the national team.
Despite the controversy surrounding his resignation, Tarpeh maintained that his commitment to Liberia’s national football team remains unchanged.
He pledged to continue supporting the Lone Star outside his former leadership position and wished the Liberia Football Association, its leadership and national team players success in their future engagements.
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