PHOTO: The trio who are on America’s red list
Monrovia, Liberia –Amid calls from various quarters for President George Weah to dismiss three officials sanctioned by the United States government for alleged acts of corruption, two of them have decided to quit their post, weeks after the President earlier suspended them.
The Executive Mansion today, Monday, September 12, 2022 issued a release saying that President Weah “has accepted the resignations of suspended Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Mr. Nathaniel F. McGill and the National Port Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Mr. Bill Twehway.”
The release did not mention the third sanctioned official, the suspended Solicitor General of Liberia, Cllr. Seyma S. Cephus.
The two were suspended by President Weah following their designation by the United States of America Treasury Department last month.
“In their letter of resignations dated September 12, 2022, the two former officials of Government thanked Dr. Weah for the opportunity to serve in the Government and Country,” the Executive Mansion release added.
On August 15, 2022, the three top officials of Weah’s Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government were slapped by United States government sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, or GloMag, US Ambassador Michael McCarthy revealed today, August 15, 2022 in a major statement released in Monrovia.
“This morning in Washington, D.C., the United States Secretary of the Treasury placed sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on three Government of Liberia officials: Minister of State Nathaniel McGill, National Port Authority Director Bill Twehway, and Solicitor General Syrenius Cephus. After a rigorous inter-agency investigation, the Treasury Department determined that these three officials engaged in corrupt acts, and they are now subject to U.S. financial sanctions and visa restrictions. This is a decision that the United States Government does not take lightly because corruption is not a light topic. As Treasury Secretary Yellen put it, “Corrupt acts take resources from citizens, undermine public trust, and threaten the progress of those who fight for democracy,” Amb. McCarthy said.