By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – Former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah has become the center of another major corruption-related investigation after the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT) formally summoned him over allegations surrounding the alleged diversion of US$20.5 million intended for rice subsidy payments in Liberia.
The latest confrontation between the former senior official of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration and the Boakai government erupted Wednesday, May 13, 2026, when AREPT issued an official communication inviting Tweah for questioning over what investigators described as alleged theft, economic sabotage, criminal conspiracy, criminal facilitation, and misapplication of public funds connected to the controversial rice subsidy program implemented between September 2021 and October 2022.
The letter, signed by AREPT Core Member John M. Gbilee Jr. on behalf of Executive Chairperson Edwin Kla Martin, informed Tweah that the task force had launched an investigation into the handling of funds intended to reduce the market price of rice across Liberia during a period of economic hardship and rising commodity prices.
According to the communication addressed to the former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, investigators believe funds allocated for rice subsidy payments may have been diverted despite the government publicly announcing the subsidy program to ease the burden on struggling Liberians.
“Credible records and documents in the possession of AREPT allegedly reveal that payments made by the Government of Liberia for the reduction of rice price on the Liberian market were allegedly stolen and diverted to personal use, with no impact on the reduction in the price of rice for the period under investigation,” the letter stated.
The task force further alleged that classified records in its possession suggest Tweah may have played a direct role in approving and processing the controversial payments while serving as Finance Minister under former President George Weah.
“Reliable and classified records in the custody of AREPT’s investigation allegedly reveal that you, as former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, allegedly acted in concert with others under investigation to approve and process payment at the Ministry of Finance for the rice subsidy that was allegedly diverted to personal use,” the letter added.
AREPT informed Tweah that he is expected to appear before investigators on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the task force headquarters located at the Golden Key Compound in King Gray, Paynesville. Investigators also advised the former minister to appear alongside legal counsel.
The task force emphasized that the investigation forms part of the mandate established under Executive Order #161, which created AREPT to trace, identify, investigate, and recover allegedly stolen or suspicious public assets.
“We anticipate your cooperation as we strive to promote transparency and integrity for the people of Liberia,” the communication concluded.
However, in a swift and strongly response posted shortly after receiving the letter, Samuel Tweah fiercely rejected the legitimacy of the investigation and accused the Unity Party-led government of engaging in political persecution.
“I acknowledge receipt of your letter just transmitted 15 minutes ago and will formally respond,” Tweah wrote in a public statement directed to Cllr. Martin. “I had already discussed this letter on my page in anticipation of what I described as a bogus investigation into the legal fulfillment of my responsibilities as Minister of Finance and Development Planning.”
The former finance minister insisted that the rice subsidies under investigation were legally authorized and implemented with the approval of both the Executive and Legislative branches of government. He further argued that the program was conducted in consultation with the International Monetary Fund during a period of economic pressure.
“The subsidies in question were lawfully paid after approval from the President of the Republic, His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah and the National Legislature, in consultation with the IMF,” Tweah declared.
Despite dismissing the investigation as politically motivated, Tweah confirmed that he intends to honor the AREPT invitation and appear before investigators with his legal team next week.
“I will appear in person at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 along with my lawyer to answer any queries you may have into my responsibilities as the Minister concerning this matter,” he stated.
But the former minister escalated the confrontation further by accusing the Boakai administration’s “Rescue Mission” of governance failures and what he described as repeated efforts to target him politically following his recent courtroom victory in the US$6.2 million economic sabotage trial.
Tweah announced that immediately after appearing before investigators, he plans to address the nation publicly at the Congress for Democratic Change headquarters.
“I will thereafter address the nation at CIEO at around 3:00 PM on yet another failed and doomed attempt at politically witch-hunting and targeting me, and on the broader decline of governance and failures under the Rescue Mission,” Tweah asserted.
The latest summons comes just days after Samuel Tweah was acquitted of all charges by jurors at Criminal Court “C” in the widely followed US$6.2 million economic sabotage case involving several former government officials. That verdict generated significant political debate across Liberia, with opposition supporters hailing the acquittal as proof of innocence while government officials maintained that the anti-corruption fight remains active.
