…Lauds Gov’t, CDC for prompt position statements
LIBERIA – The National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL) has condemned damming remarks made by individuals purported to be supporters of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-led government against United States Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Michael McCarthy, accusing him for meddling in the politics of Liberia and being against President George Weah.
The Council also applauded the Liberian government and CDC leadership for prompt releases against the verbal attack; however, it has requested the CDC-led government through the relevant security institution/s to pursue and invite the actors to account for their remarks.
The damning remarks by the purported supporters of the Government was made on Bana FM, a local radio station, and was further published on a leading online media platform, Smart News Liberia, under the headline: “We Will Force Him Out Of Liberia – Pro-Government Supporters Plan Protest Against U.S. Amb. Michael McCarthy.”
The verbal attacks came hot on the heel of a warning by the US Government through its Ambassador, Michael McCarthy, who cautioned individuals and financial institutions against doing business with former and current sanctioned officials of the Government of Liberia on Monday, November 14, 2022.
It can be recalled that on December 19, 2020, and December 9, 2021, the US Treasury Department sanctioned senators Prince Yormie Johnson (Nimba County) and Varney N. Sherman (Grand Cape Mount County) respectively, under the Global Magnitsky Act for alleged acts of corruption. Recently, on August 15, 2022, the US Ambassador announced similar sanctions of the US Treasury Department of three government officials; namely: Cllr. Syrenius Cephus, former Solicitor General of Liberia, and Messieurs Nathaniel McGill and Bill Twehway, former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and former Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA) respectively.
In response to the damning remarks made against the US Ambassador, the umbrella organization of all CSOs of Liberia firmly condemned statements against the country’s traditional allied.
“The National Civil Society Council of Liberia condemns in the strongest term, recent pronouncement attributed to a group purported to be supporters of the ruling establishment – the Coalition for Democratic Change and the government regarding a planned protest against the Ambassador of the United States of America Michael McCarthy,” the statement read.
“On the other hand, the Council commended the Government of Liberia and the CDC leadership for promptly condemning the reckless remarks. Meanwhile, the Council encouraged the Government of Liberia to go beyond verbal refutation and kind words and take actions to hold the actors to account. There are sufficient identifying elements and means of tracking the purported supporters that the government could employ to invite the actors to account for their remarks,” it furthered.
NCSCL however warned Liberians against “making reckless utterances that could strain Liberia’s diplomatic relations with its governmental counterparts and tarnish the nascent democratic credential of the country”.
The Council also urged the Liberian media to not give their platforms to be used to broadcast verbal attacks, consistent with the Press Union of Liberia’s code of ethics but to assist in promoting peace, security and development.
“At the same time, the National Council of Liberia calls on all well-meaning Liberians to join the chorus in condemning the remarks”, the release which was carved under the signature of NCSCL’s Chairperson, Madam Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai, added.
