Monrovia-Former Finance and Growth Planning Minister, Samuel Tweah, Jr. has addressed himself to an array of points starting from the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF ) $30 million {dollars} COVID-19 Family Meals Help Program Funds, tradition of lies and dishonesty and political weaponization, tradition of silence and the necessity for fact telling.
At a press convention final Friday, the previous Finance Minister, in a shocking show, categorically denied any wrongdoing within the administration of the US$30 million COVID-19 Family Meals Help Program (COHFSP) funds.
In accordance with him, your complete US$25 million from the IMF and a further US$5 million from the World Financial institution have been transferred on to the World Meals Programme (WFP), not managed or spent by the Ministry of Finance or any Liberian authorities official.
“By July 2022, the WFP reported spending about US$23.8 million, with somewhat over US$2 million remaining unspent,” Mr. Tweahclarified, and careworn that the stability was to be returned to the federal government and the World Financial institution, however had not been returned by the point the CDC administration left workplace.
Mr. Tweah emphasised that they introduced documentation and turnover notes exhibiting that the WFP was solely answerable for the funds’ administration and expenditure.
He acknowledged, any investigation to determine potential wrongdoing ought to concentrate on the WFP, not him or the estwhile CDC authorities.
As a part of setting the information on the administration of the money straight, former Minister Tweah referenced publicly out there studies, letters, and turnover notes to help his claims.
He spoke of a letter from the present Finance Minister approving using a portion of the unspent COVID-19 funds for college feeding, which he himself had beforehand declined to approve.
He mentioned there may be clear and unequivocal proof that the CDC administration left clear suggestions for the incoming authorities relating to the remaining funds.
The previous Minister additionally took swipe at Stanton Witherspoon of Spoon Community for allegedly main what he termed “a four-year marketing campaign of defamation and misinformation.”
He mentioned Witherspoon equally claimed that Tweah can be arrested over the COVID-19 funds, including that he has not been contacted by anybody within the authorities regarding arresting or calling him for investigation in relation to the COVID-19 COHFSP funds.
Addressing himself to points regarding the Judiciary and Rule of Regulation, Minister Tweah
expressed undiluted confidence within the nation’s judicial system, citing enhancements in judicial independence and the rule of regulation for the reason that civil conflict period.
Extensively known as D. Tweah, Jr., former Minister the categorically refuted allegations of economic impropriety, present documentation on the administration of COVID-19 aid funds, and expressed his willingness to undergo any investigation, official or in any other case, and reaffirmed his dedication to vindicating himself via authorized means.
Contemplating the gravity of Witherspoon’s assassination of his character, he introduced plans to file a defamation lawsuit in opposition to Witherspoon, noting that such falsehoods have induced public panic and broken his popularity.
Former Finance Minister Tweah argued that the allegations are politically motivated andcdesigned to wreck his popularity and that of the CDC administration.
He added that they’re being perpetuated by people who know the reality however refundamental silent for political acquire.
Mr. Tweah expressed frustration and criticized what he termed the “broader tradition of silence amongst those that know the reality however don’t communicate out in opposition to falsehoods, pointing
at members of presidency, political events, media, and spiritual establishments.
The previous authorities official credited for stabilizing the economic system beneath President Weah known as for a better commonplace of fact and verification in journalism and public commentary, warning that weaponizing lies undermines nationwide discourse and the struggle in opposition to corruption
In the meantime, the previous Finance Minister additionally used the Press convention to touch upon lights on financial and coverage Points, the strides made by the outgone administration.
He particularly highlighted the CDC administration’s achievements in securing long-term financing for roads and electrical energy, guaranteeing that future administrations would profit from these preparations.
On Street Financing Achievements, He Disclosed That The CDCAdministration Secured Main Street Financing.
“All main street financing in Liberia was secured beneath the CDC authorities led by President Weah,” he disclosed, asserting that long-term (10-year) financing preparations for each street and electrical energy tasks, guaranteeing that future administrations would profit from these secured funds.
On the struggle in opposition to corruption, he praised former President Weah’sinformation, pointing to the reactivated Liberia Anti-Corruption Fee (LACC) as one of the President’s successes.
Beneath President Weah, Tweah emphasised that the LACC was strengthened with new authorized frameworks and larger authority to prosecute corruption circumstances, stressing “LACC’s reform was such that it even diminished the President’s political authority over the establishment.”
As somebody with deep understanding of macro-economic issues, Mr. Tweah mentioned the challenges of Liberia’s funds constraints, wage invoice.
He careworn the necessity for trustworthy political dialogue about what authorities can and can’t remedy for the Liberian individuals.
Tweah additionally warned that political witch-hunts and the manipulation of public opinion via lies wouldn’t advance Liberia’s improvement or unity.
The previous Minister urged Liberian media practitioners to train highest commonplace of professionalism and duty Tweahcriticized the media and social commentators for failing to confirm data earlier than publicizing damaging allegations, urging increased requirements of truthfulness and accountability.
Tweah convened the press convention to handle what he described as a sustained marketing campaign of misinformation, political assaults, and character assassination focusing on him and different former officials of the CDC administration.
He emphasised that the convention was not about his ongoing authorized case, however about exposing the broader tradition of dishonesty and political weaponization of falsehoods in Liberia’s public discourse.
