MONROVIA – The Southeastern Solidarity Network for Peace and Justice has condemned in the strongest terms the decision of President Joseph N. Boakai to suspend the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, Hon. J. Aloysius Tarlue. In a press statement issued on Monday, August 5, 2024, and signed by the group’s Interim Chairman, Wleh Obediah Wleh, the network criticized the suspension as unlawful, unprecedented, and diabolical.
“To the best of our knowledge, Hon. Tarlue has performed exceptionally well in the discharge of his duties as Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, earning several accolades and recognitions from international banking institutions,” stated Wleh. “It is completely ludicrous for President Joseph Boakai to subject the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, Hon. J. Aloysius Tarlue, to suspension without taking into consideration the Act that created the Bank. It is sad that a President who was elected to right the wrong is the one committing more wrongs and plunging our country’s governance path into complete disarray by violating structural laws such as the CBL Act.”
The Southeastern Solidarity Network for Peace and Justice expressed categorical support for Hon. Tarlue’s decision to seek remedy from the Supreme Court of Liberia. “Gone are the days that the rule of law will be trampled on. Therefore, President Joseph Boakai must save his face by honorably reversing his baseless and/or clueless decision to suspend Governor Tarlue illegally,” the statement continued.
The network also condemned the General Auditing Commission (GAC) for what it described as political machinations. According to the group, the GAC falsely claimed that the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) refused to submit its accounting software and other documents requested during the audit. The CBL did present the documents and software, which were subsequently rejected and returned by the GAC in an unprofessional and unorthodox manner. The same documents and software were cited by President Boakai as the reason for Governor Tarlue’s suspension.
“This is a broad day collusion by the GAC and President Boakai to malign, defame, and smear the hard-earned reputation of Governor Tarlue,” the network asserted. “While we await the Supreme Court’s response to the Writ of Prohibition filed by lawyers representing Governor Tarlue, the Southeastern Solidarity Network for Peace and Justice will embark on an initiative to draw the attention of the international community to the flagrant manner in which President Joseph Boakai has violated the Act that created the Central Bank of Liberia, thus injuring the personal and professional clout of Governor J. Aloysius Tarlue.”