MONROVIA – The Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia (COYSBL), a conglomeration of five youth and student prodemocracy groups in Liberia, including the Progressive Student Alliance of Liberia, Movement in Defense of Justice and Rule of Law, CSO Anti-Corruption Movement, the National Youth Council of Liberia, and the Youth Justice Watch Platform, strongly condemns and categorically rejects call made by the National Youth Congress Chairman of the Unity Party (UP) for the dismissal of Justice Minister Oswald Tweh. Melvin Cephas’ call for the dismissal of Cllr. Tweh on allegations that the Minister is “dangerous, ineffective, and has failed to vigorously prosecute corruption cases as promised by the current administration”, is not only baseless and groundless, but is also counterproductive to the dispensation of justice in Liberia.
It is highly unfortunate and ridiculous for the chairman of the National Youth Congress of the ruling party to call for the removal of the Justice Minister based on the assumption that a “non-guilty” verdict for former Finance & Development Planning Minister, Mr. Samuel Tweah, is a failure on the part of the Minister of Justice in the fight against corruption. This assertion tends to credence to the already existing perception by some citizens, especially members of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) that the US$6.2million case was intended to target Mr. Tweah. Mr. Cephas’ unwarranted assertions also undermine the integrity of national institutions and threaten the progress of the ongoing rule of law reforms being initiated by the leadership of Cllr. Tweh at the Ministry of Justice.
The Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia wonders as to how the youth leader of the ruling party could hold the Minister of Justice responsible for a verdict rendered by jurors, ordinary Liberians who were selected to rule in the US$6.2million case. It is highly foolhardy and ludicrous for Melvin Cephas and his likes to blame Justice Minister Oswald Tweh for a Jury verdict, especially when the very verdict essentially justified the prosecution indictment that US$6.2million was corrupted and stolen. The guilty verdict for former Security Advisor, Jefferson Kammoh, former Acting Justice Minister, Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, and former Finance Intelligence Agency Director, Stanley Ford, shows that the government won the corruption case. Mr. Cephas and some members of the Unity Party who seem ignorant of the laws has to understand that political advocacy should be based on factual evidence and respect for the independence of the judiciary rather than promotion of personal or political agendas of a party.
COYSBL sees it as even more evil in nature and gravely despicable for the UP Montserrado County Youth Congress Chairman to make ridiculous assertions, targeting Mr. Siaffa Kemokai, a selfless and peoplecentered young leader, who serves as the Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice Minister. The allegation made by Sylvester Wonplue, a corrupt and confused UP youth official that Minister Oswald Tweh and the Deputy and assistant ministers at the ministry are not working together or speaking to each other due to the role of Mr. Siaffa Kemoaki is reckless, irresponsible, and has the propensity to create division amongst members of the ministry’s management team. This exposes the level of hate, envy, and anger that youthful leaders of the UP, including Wonplue have for professional and knowledgeable nonpartisan Liberians who are contributing to national growth and development.
The Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia expresses commendation to Justice Minister Oswald Tweh and his management team for the level of reforms undertaken at the Ministry. From 2024 to 2026, the Ministry of Justice under the Boakai Administration and the legal leadership of Cllr. Oswald N. Tweh has focused on ant-corruption efforts, criminal justice prosecutions, and infrastructural modernization. The achievement of 52 convictions in 2024 and 60 in 2025; the ongoing construction of a US$20million modern justice complex on Capitol Hill, the “justice ambassador program”, the establishment of a fully functioning Witness Protection Agency, amongst others, are important achievements of the Ministry of justice under Cllr. Tweh, which aligns with the government’s ARREST Agenda.
In conclusion, the Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia calls on President Joseph Boakai not to give credence to Melvin Cephas, whho has failed the very youthful population he represents at the party. We urge Justice Minister Oswald Tweh and his team at the Ministry not to be distracted, but to keep working in the promotion of justice consistent with the rule of law.
Signed: COLLABORATING CSO ORGANIZATIONS
- Progressive Student Alliance of Liberia ______________________
- Movement in Defense of Justice and Rule of Law ______________________
- Civil Society Justice Governance ____________________
- National Youth Council of Liberia _____________________
- Youth Justice Watch Platform ______________________
