-Liberians react to U.S. sanction, visa restrictions
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
In response to the recent U.S. sanction and visa restrictions placed on Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, Senate Pro-TemporeAlbert Chie, and Margibi County Senator Emmanuel Nuquay,Liberians have characterized the U.S. action as a substantive warning to the incoming administration.
Friday, December 8, 2023, the U.S. designated sanction on Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee, for human rights abuses and corruption. On Monday, December 11, 2023, the U.S. also placed visa restriction on Liberia’s Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Senate Pro-Tempore Albert Chie, and Margibi County Senator Emmanuel Nuquay for their involvement in what they described as significant corruption by abusing their public positions through soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes to manipulate legislative processes and public funding, including legislative reporting and mining sector activity.
Following this development, WomanVoices Newspaper on Wednesday, December 12, 2023, conducted a perception survey on the campus of the University of Liberia, to attain the reactions of students, with regards to the treasury department’s decision.
Speaking to this paper, the students welcomed the treasury department decision and described the recent flow of sanction as a worning to the incoming government, and all of its officials.”This is a warning to the incoming government. It is a lession also to every Liberian that are aspiring for position not to be influence by power once they are elected.”
Reacting to the U.S. December 11, 2023, decision, the students of the University further caution the president elect and his incoming officials to put the interest of Liberia above personal interest. They asserted that the destination serves as as deterant, and will promote economy viability that will further enhance peace and security. “It serves as a deterant, and will promote economy viability that will further enhance peace and security.”
The sanction which builds upon and is implemented by the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, is the US government effort of leveraging tools to promote accountability and counter global corruption.
The treasury department in the release added that the sanction is in fulfillment of the commitment made by the United States on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day and the opening of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption. He U.S. says the actions are taken to promote accountability for corrupt actors around the world.
“Pursuant to Section 7031(c), the United States is publicly designating Tweah, Chie, and Nuquay, for their involvement in significant corruption by abusing their public positions through soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes to manipulate legislative processes and public funding, including legislative reporting and mining sector activity.
As part of this action, their immediate family members are also designated, including their spouses Delecia Berry Tweah, Abigail Chie, and Ruthtoria Brown Nuquay, and Tweah and Nuquay’s minor children.”
It can be recalled on December 8, 2023, the Treasury designated Mayor of Monrovia Jefferson Koijee pursuant to E.O. 13818 for engaging, or being the masterminder behind the existence of groups that have engaged in serious human rights abuses and corruption.
In addition to serious human rights abuse, the U.S. says Koijee engaged in corrupt acts, including bribery and misappropriation of state assets and pressuring anti-corruption investigators to halt all corruption investigations.
