MONROVIA – Former Finance and Growth Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah has known as on the Authorities of Liberia to redirect its investigation of the COVID-19 stimulus fund to the World Meals Programme (WFP) as an alternative of focusing on him.
By Obediah Johnson
At a information convention held in Congo City on Friday, Tweah dismissed allegations that he mismanaged the US$30 million COVID-19 meals distribution funds supplied by the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) and the World Financial institution through the pandemic. He described the accusations as false, politically motivated, and a part of a broader effort to break his repute.
Tweah claimed that media character Stanton Witherspoon has been actively spreading misinformation about his position within the stimulus fund whereas utilizing his Spoon community platform to recommend his pending arrest. He accused Witherspoon of orchestrating a personality assassination marketing campaign that has persevered for over 4 years.
“Though Mr. Witherspoon faces a number of lawsuits for libel, he continues to malign harmless folks,” Tweah stated. “Final week, he informed Liberians that I’d be arrested over the US$30 million COVID scandal. This misinformation has precipitated widespread hypothesis and concern, together with calls urging me to alter my sleeping location.”
Tweah emphasised that he performed no position within the expenditure of the stimulus fund and insisted the WFP was solely accountable for managing and implementing the COVID-19 Family Meals Assist Program (COHFSP).
WFP Obtained and Spent the Funds, Tweah Says
Based on Tweah, the Liberian authorities, by the IMF, secured US$25 million for the COHFSP in 2020. An extra US$5 million was disbursed by the World Financial institution by the Ministry of Agriculture below the STAR-P mission. All funds had been transferred on to the WFP for implementation, bypassing authorities businesses.
“I used to be very pleased with this association,” Tweah famous. “It meant no Liberian authorities establishment could be accused of stealing the cash. The WFP obtained and spent the funds, and they need to be those below investigation.”
He said that the Ministry of Finance obtained the IMF’s US$25 million and transferred it instantly to the WFP’s account. The World Financial institution’s US$5 million, he stated, didn’t enter authorities accounts in any respect.
Tweah offered information exhibiting that by July 2022, the WFP reported spending US$23.8 million of the US$30 million and had a stability of over US$2 million to be returned to the Authorities of Liberia and the World Financial institution. He alleged that as much as the tip of the CDC administration, the WFP had not returned these remaining funds.
He additionally referenced a turnover observe ready by the Division of Financial Administration detailing these funds and pending reimbursements.
Questions Over Reallocation of Unused Funds
Tweah disclosed that in March 2025, Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuah wrote him requesting clarification about the usage of US$234,350—20% of the remaining COVID-19 funds—earmarked for college feeding. Based on Tweah, this reallocation had not been authorised throughout his tenure, regardless of prior requests from the WFP.
“I rejected the request when WFP requested in 2023. It’s ironic that the present minister authorised the reallocation, but rumors flow into that I’d be arrested for it,” he stated. “If I had authorised it, they’d have accused me of utilizing WFP cash for CDC elections.”
Authorized Motion Towards Witherspoon
Tweah introduced he has instructed his legal professionals to file a defamation lawsuit in opposition to Stanton Witherspoon over what he termed “false and damaging claims.” He accused Witherspoon of appearing on alleged data from authorities sources and manipulating public sentiment for political functions.
“I don’t care about Witherspoon’s sources. I care that Liberians have been made to imagine that I’m illegally linked to a $30 million fund for which the federal government is in search of my arrest,” Tweah said.
He stated the deliberate unfold of misinformation is a part of a broader political tactic to weaponize lies in opposition to former officers of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration.
“This won’t be and shouldn’t be how we conduct our politics,” Tweah stated. “We can’t struggle corruption by mendacity on harmless folks. Those that maintain this tradition of lies should be fiercely resisted.”
Tweah added he’s ready to defend his repute politically, legally, and intellectually, and known as for a extra sincere nationwide discourse targeted on the true points affecting Liberians.
