President George Weah has suspended three Liberian officials who were the target of US penalties that were announced on Monday.
According to a statement released by the Liberian presidency on Tuesday, President George Weah considers the accusations made against the officers in the study to be serious. He also appointed the suspended officials’ principal deputies to serve in their place.
On Monday, the United States said that it has imposed sanctions for corruption on several high-ranking Liberians, including the secretary general and minister in charge of presidential affairs who is close to President George Weah.
Nathaniel McGill, who is the minister in charge of presidential affairs and President Weah’s secretary general is accused of “abusing his position to undermine the integrity and independence of Liberia’s democratic institutions … for personal gain,” according to a statement from State Department spokesman Ned Price. A separate Treasury Department statement said he “received bribes” in government contracts.
Sayma Syrenius Cephus, Liberia’s attorney general, and Bill Twehway, president of the National Port Authority, are two further top officials who have received sanctions.
Liberia was established in the 19th century at the request of the United States for emancipated African slaves, making it the oldest republic in sub-Saharan Africa.
