-Gives 2-week ultimatum to Ellen officials to return vehicles
By our Reporter
President George Manneh Weah has said Liberians should not blame the United States government for the country’s problem, because the US has given Liberia billions of dollars in assistance but past governments have squandered the money.
He was speaking during a prayer service at the Dominion Christian Fellowship Church in Monrovia’s Sinkor suburb, when he and his delegation return form a three-nation visit to Senegal, Morocco and France on Friday.
Weah said the US has given huge development assistance to Liberia over the years but past governments have failed to use it to benefit the people.
“There is no way you can suggest that the U.S. is our problem. America is our ally and France is America’s ally so the friends of America are our friends. How can we blame America when we have failed to manage billions of dollars given to this country by America?”
President Weah further wondered: “Why do we want to blame people when we are in charge. Let us change our attitude. Everything that comes is for the Liberian people.”
The new Liberian leader, who took office one month ago on January 22, 2018, dismissed speculations that his government was downplaying relations with the US by making France his first official visit outside Africa.
“Our friend and big brother the United States will soon call us. They are our partners we will soon be going to them and we want to maintain our partnership with America in the interest of our government,“ Weah said in a statement broadcast live nationwide.
Ahead of the 2017 elections, Weah’s main rival former Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai of the then ruling Unity Party (UP) admitted that their government had had great opportunities but they “squandered” them.
He then called for change in attitude by Liberians including his official.
“Those of you with the opportunity to serve, you need to do due diligence and for Liberia to change we must change our attitude. We want to succeed and we want Liberians to succeed. W we want our people to benefit so we cannot blame America, China, and France for our setback,” the Liberian leader said.
Earlier. Speaking to Journalists at the Roberts International Airport, Weah described his visit to France as very successful
Two week ultimatum to former officials
Meanwhile, the Liberian leader has given a two-week ultimatum to former officials in the Sirleaf government to turn over all government vehicles and assets still in their possession or the government will go after them.
“People who worked with the former government are hiding and scraping vehicles they used in the past government. They are stealing all the cars leaving this new government with the burden to buy new vehicles. What is s car that you cannot be honorable enough to leave behind?” he asserted.
Weah made it clear that his action should not be seen as a witch-hunt but one in the best interest of the Liberian people, as return of the vehicles will prevent government from paying huge amounts for new vehicles.
“I am not here to make the news but to make an impact if I am given the chance.We don’t want people to start to accuse us of witch hunting and the best thing to do is to bring government property back. I am not a professor. I am a practical person,” the 51-year-old Liberian leader emphasized.
Repeating the warning in the Church, President Weah said: “All of you who took government properties, you have two weeks to bring them back if not we will come for them. You have two weeks. We have to be true to our government. I am glad that I am saying it in a church. You got two weeks or we will come for them to be used for the benefit of our country.”
While President Weah was in Paris this week, France pledged 10 million euros to Liberia for immediate road maintenance/
The government of President Emmanuel Macron announced that a more comprehensive and sustainable development package for the country expected to follow, an Executive Mansion dispatch from Paris said on Thursday.
The assistance is a result of being shortlisted on the French Bilateral Official Assistance Program and it comes as President George Manneh Weah continues his state visit to France.
According to the dispatch, in further support to the Weah-led administration, French President Macron will also travel to the European Union (EU) within two weeks along with a Technical Team from Liberia to rally support for road construction.
Additionally, the French Government will also introduce of its new Economic Empowerment Program dubbed: “Agriculture through Sports,” which Liberia stands to benefit from.
This will be done through the construction of sporting facilities and the provision of sporting materials and other logistical support.