By Bridgett Milton
The United States Government says officials designated in Liberia and their families are banned for life, from entering the United States.
Speaking at a Press Roundtable Tuesday, December 12, at the Embassy of the United States near Monrovia, Charge` d’ Affaires Catherine Rodriguez, said those individuals who have been sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control under Global Magnitsky, and their families will no longer be able to utilize the U.S. banking system besides lifetime ban out of America.
Charge` d’ Affaires Rodriguez says designated officials that have kids in the United States that hold U.S. Citizenship, the American Government will look at how they are living there, but if their kids are in Liberia and have visas to go to the United States, said visas will be canceled.
She underscores that corruption and human rights abuse is a Biden Administration foreign policy priority that is advanced globally and in these most recent cases, the designations were the result of the official’s individual actions, not those of a political party or the country itself.
Last week Friday, December 8, and Monday of this week, December 11, the U.S. Government sanctioned several Liberian officials, using the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and authorities under section 7031(c) for visa restrictions.
“For those sanctioned by the U.S. Department of State under Section 7031(c), they and their families will have a lifelong ban from entering the United States. 7031(c) provides that, in cases where the Secretary of State has credible information that foreign officials have been involved in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights, those individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States.”
The United States government has widened its sanctions against Liberian officials in President George Manneh Weah’s regime, adding as latest on the list
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On Monday, 11 December the U.S. State Department issued visa restrictions against Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, Senators Albert T. Chie, and Emmanuel Nuquay, bringing to a total of nine top officials who have been sanctioned so far in the Weah-led regime.
The U.S. has also included on the list of visa restrictions the immediate family members of Minister Tweah, Senator Chie and Senator Nuquay.
The U.S. State Department said pursuant to Section 7031(c), it has publicly designated the three officials for their alleged involvement in significant corruption by abusing their public positions through soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes.
The U.S. government accuses the officials of offering or receiving bribes to manipulate legislative processes and public funding, including legislative reporting and mining sector activity.
As part of this action, the U.S. explained that their immediate family members including their spouses, Delecia Berry Tweah, Abigail Chie, and Ruthtoria Brown Nuquay, and Tweah and Nuquay’s minor children are also banned.
Earlier on 8 December 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department designated Monrovia Mayor and ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) secretary general Jefferson Koijee.
Koijee’s sanction is pursuant to E.O. 13818 for engaging or having been a leader of an entity that has engaged in serious human rights abuse and corruption.
The U.S. said Koijee has engaged in corrupt acts, including bribery and misappropriation of state assets and pressuring anti-corruption investigators to halt all corruption investigations.
“Today, the U.S. State Department designated 30 individuals around the world pursuant to 7031(c) visa restrictions, including Samuel Tweah, the Liberian Minister of Finance and Development Planning, and Liberian Senators Albert Chie and Emmanuel Nuquay and their close relatives,” the U.S. Government said.
According to Ms Rodriguez, she hears from her own employees and those Liberians she has met during her time here, who
tell her that their salary supports not only themselves and their children but also their extended family members, who are unemployed, and they grumble about paying taxes, they know it’s necessity but ask, “Where is the money going?”
She adds that Corruption doesn’t only affect one’s life today, but also threatens his or her family’s future and the world is a global marketplace.
“Liberia, like other countries in the world, must compete for new business opportunities, for foreign assistance, and for international financing. The fortunes of all Liberians are squandered when government corruption becomes a factor in that decision making. So, what can YOU do about it? The problem can seem intractable.”
She notes that Corruption has been around for thousands of years and exists in every society, including the United States, saying “It’s not the fact that corruption exists that’s important, but rather what you do about it.”
She urges that Liberia should make it easier for regular citizens and honest government workers to report fraud and corruption.
“The good news is that Liberia DOES have institutions capable of investigating and prosecuting corruption and holding wrongdoers accountable. It DOES have institutions and procedures for ensuring transparent and competitive procurement of goods and services to ensure the best value for YOU, the citizens of Liberia”, the U.S. Embassy Charge` d’ Affaires continues.
She reveals that the United States has even witnessed a few successes as demonstrated with the Anti-Corruption Champion award bestowed upon a Liberian Marc Kollie, this year by Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, for his fight against corruption.
However, she points that a few successes here and there is not sufficient, rather, suggesting that what is needed is consistent political will within the executive branch and legislature to ensure these institutions have the support and resources they need, to carry out the work they were created to do.
The U.S. had earlier sanctioned Margibi County Senator-elect, Nathaniel McGill, River Cess County Senator-elect, Bill Tweahway, and former Solicitor General, Cllr. Saymah Syrenius Cephus. The three senior officials from the Executive were sanctioned along with Nimba Senator Prince Y. Johnson and defeated Grand Cape Mount Senator Varney G. Sherman. Editing by Jonathan Browne
Thanks to the American government for the help they are rendering to the Liberian people. The Liberia government had been corrupt but no action could be taken by the next government. This is the best step the American government is taking.
God will continue to bless America
The American government stance to impose on individuals believed to be corrupt officials in the Weah government is laudable and welcoming by the Liberian people.
Corruption in the Weah regime is horrible and needs political will and international effort with the inclusion all Liberians in the fight against corruption.
Weah regime lacks the political will in fighting corruption because president Weah and his hooligans are into corrupt activities in Liberia.