–Urges Liberians To Move Beyond Trivial Politics
On Friday, July 4, 2025 the former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel D. Tweah, addressed the nation on what he described as a sustained campaign of misinformation, political attacks, and character assassination targeting him and other former officials of the CDC administration.
Tweah, along with ex-National Security Advisor, Jefferson Karmoh, and former Solicitor General, Cllr. Nyanti Tuan, face multiple charges, including economic sabotage, fraud, and criminal conspiracy. Their indictment stems from an investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), which accused the former officials of orchestrating a scheme that diverted over L$1 billion and US$500,000 from the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA).
According to the LACC, Tweah allegedly authorized hefty transfers without proper approval from the National Security Council, which had oversight on the funds in question. The LACC stated that there was no documented need or request for these funds, raising questions about the legality of the transactions.
However, former Minister Tweah has emphasized that the allegations are politically motivated, designed to damage his reputation and that of the CDC administration, and are being perpetuated by individuals who know the truth but remain silent for political gain. He criticized the media and social commentators for failing to verify information before publicizing damaging allegations, urging higher standards of truthfulness and accountability.
At a press conference held Friday, July 4, 2025 at the CDC headquarters, Tweah categorically denied any wrongdoing in the management of the US$30 million COVID-19 Household Food Support Program (COHFSP) funds, and clarified that the entire US$25 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and an additional US$5 million from the World Bank were transferred directly to the World Food Programme (WFP)—not managed or spent by the Ministry of Finance or any Liberian government official.
He said by July 2022, the WFP reported spending about US$23.8 million, with a little over US$2 million remaining unspent. This balance, he said, was to be returned to the government and the World Bank, but had not been returned by the time the CDC administration left office.
Tweah presented documentation and turnover notes showing that the WFP was solely responsible for the funds’ management and expenditure, and that any investigation should focus on the WFP, not him or the CDC government.
He further referenced publicly available reports, letters, and turnover notes to support his claims, including a letter from the current Finance Minister, Augustine Ngafuan, approving the use of a portion of the unspent COVID-19 funds for school feeding, which Tweah said he had previously declined to approve.
The former Finance Minister further refuted allegations of financial impropriety in the management of COVID-19 relief funds, and announce legal action against those he accused of defamation. He called for a more honest and responsible political and media environment in Liberia, emphasizing the need for truth and transparency in public discourse.
Tweah accused media personality, Stanton Witherspoon, of leading a four-year campaign of defamation and misinformation, including recent claims that he would be arrested over the COVID-19 funds. He announced plans to file a defamation lawsuit against Witherspoon, stating that such falsehoods have caused public panic and damaged his reputation.
He urged Liberians to move beyond “trivial politics” and focus on reconciliation, truth, and the real issues facing the country, warning that political witch-hunts and the manipulation of public opinion through lies would not advance Liberia’s development or unity.
Tweah criticized the culture of silence among those who know the truth but do not speak out against falsehoods, including members of government, political parties, media, and religious institutions. He further called for a higher standard of truth and verification in journalism and public commentary, and warned that weaponizing lies undermines national discourse and the fight against corruption.
Meanwhile, former Minister Tweah has expressed confidence in the judicial system, citing improvements in judicial independence and the rule of law since the civil war era. He stated his willingness to submit to any investigation, legitimate or otherwise, and reaffirmed his commitment to vindicating himself through legal means.
Tweah highlighted the CDC administration’s achievements in securing long-term (10 years) financing for roads and electricity, ensuring that future administrations would benefit from these arrangements.
He discussed the challenges of the budget constraints, wage bill, and the need for honest political dialogue about what government can and cannot solve for the Liberian people.