By Bill W. Cooper
United States Ambassador to Liberia, Michael McCarthy, has described the rampant corruption in the Liberian government as “unethical and a betrayal” to the country and its citizenry.
Amb McCarthy said, “In my most recent press release, I expressed a deep concern for this sort of corruption which exists at all levels, regardless of political affiliation, and let me be clear; the blatant theft of government funds by public servants at the highest levels is not just unethical, it is a betrayal.”
“I mean, a betrayal of the oaths they took on assuming office, and a betrayal of international partners who take taxpayer revenues from their own country to help the people of a country in need,” McCarthy lamented.
The US envoy’s assertion comes amidst mounting speculations that the U.S. government is expected to unleash another batch of sanctions on perceived corrupt officials following the sanctioning of three key officials of the Weah-led government last year.
It can be recalled that on August 15, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it designated three high-ranking officials of the Liberian government for “Their involvement in ongoing public corruption in Liberia”
The three officials include Nathaniel McGill, former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, former Solicitor General of Liberia, and Bill Twehway, former Managing Director of Liberia National Port Authority.
The three officials were designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818 which seeks to enforce the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act that essentially targets perpetrators of severe human rights violations and extreme corruption anywhere around the world.
The officials who denied any wrong doing later resigned from their respective positions, with McGill and Twehway pursuing their intentions to contest the senatorial seats within their respective counties.
Addressing a news conference at the US embassy in Monrovia on May 31, 2023, the US diplomat stressed the consequences and impact that corruption has on society and how it undermines democracy and the rule of law.
“I have witnessed how corruption can be detrimental to developing countries on both economic and social fronts” Amb. McCarthy observed.
He noted that bribery, embezzlement and fraud are pervasive in many countries and that they hinder economic growth, slow down development and perpetuate poverty, and as such, there is an urgent need for government to tightened its belt to fight against corruption in Liberia like it was done in Singapore.
“Corruption does not only affect the government sector, but also the business community, and argued that it also creates a culture of mistrust, breeds insecurity and undermines social justice in society,” he said.
“Corruption is a disease that eats away at the fabric of society. It erodes people’s trust in the government, undermines economic development and ultimately, harms the most vulnerable members of society,” McCarthy asserted.
The US envoy called on governments to prioritize efforts to combat corruption by strengthening transparency and accountability mechanisms, and by ensuring that officials who engage in corrupt activities are held accountable for their actions.
He emphasized the important role that civil society organizations, the media and the international partners can play in promoting good governance and combating corruption.
Ambassador McCarthy asserted, “As my tenure here in Liberia comes to a close, my concern for the Liberian people is undiminished. I look forward to seeing both civil society leaders and government officials stepping up to truly put the nation’s interests first. There lie the dreams of every patriotic Liberian!”
