MONROVIA – The family of the late First Lady Nancy B. Doe has once more turned down a donation from former President George Manneh Weah, intensifying a public feud rooted in long-standing grievances. On Monday, June 9, the Doe family formally rejected a sympathy package from the former president that included US$5,000, 50 bags of rice, and two cows, reigniting a controversy that has drawn national attention.
The gesture, which was initially accepted by Liberia’s Ambassador to the European Union, Isaac Nyenabo, was later denounced by the family after internal disagreement. Mamie Doe, the eldest daughter of the late First Lady and head of the family, told Smart News Liberia that Ambassador Nyenabo has since apologized to the family, claiming he was unaware of their collective position and the deeper context surrounding their relationship with Mr. Weah.
“Ambassador Nyenabo said he didn’t know the full situation and the agreement we had made as a family. He has apologized to us,” Mamie Doe stated.
At the heart of the rejection lies what the family describes as years of neglect, mistreatment, and broken promises during Weah’s administration. According to the family, the late Mrs. Nancy Doe was systematically denied her rightful benefits as a former First Lady and was treated with indifference and disrespect, especially during attempts to seek official recognition and restitution from the Weah-led government.
“Mr. Weah never showed concern for our mother when she was alive. Now that she’s gone, he wants to make a gesture. We see that as dishonest and ungrateful,” Mamie said.
This marks the second time the Doe family has publicly refused a donation from the former president following his expression of condolences after the former First Lady’s death on May 21. Their previous rejection of a similar package was accompanied by a blistering statement from Mamie Doe, accusing Weah of publicly humiliating her mother and denying her justice during his presidency.
Mamie recounted a painful episode in which her mother, seeking assistance from President Weah, was made to wait over eight hours at the Executive Mansion only to be scolded, humiliated, and turned away in tears. She also alleged that Mrs. Doe was denied access to the Mansion over a six-year period, during which multiple requests for pension payments and resolution of legal disputes, including one before ECOWAS, went unanswered.
In the wake of Mrs. Doe’s death, former President Weah issued a public tribute describing her as a “towering presence” and praising her contributions to women’s advancement and national football. He also referred to her passing as “deeply personal,” citing her husband, President Samuel K. Doe, as a pivotal figure in his football career. However, this tribute was swiftly challenged by Mamie, who accused Weah of hypocrisy and using her father’s legacy only when it served his political agenda.
“You’d sooner praise foreign backers than the very man who pulled you up by your bootstraps,” she wrote in her widely circulated response. “So please forgive our astonishment at your heartfelt condolences.”
Mamie concluded her rebuke by casting doubt on the sincerity of Weah’s message, suggesting it was likely ghostwritten and devoid of genuine emotion. She expressed profound disappointment that her mother’s final years were marked by rejection and emotional suffering at the hands of a man who once benefited from her family’s legacy.
As of press time, former President George Weah has not issued any official response to the Doe family’s renewed rejection or to the public apology from Ambassador Nyenabo. The situation has generated wide debate across social and political circles, with many questioning whether the tensions reflect personal grievances or broader issues regarding how Liberia treats the families of past national figures.
Mrs. Nancy B. Doe passed away peacefully on May 21, 2025, at her Sinkor residence following a period of illness. She was the widow of slain President Samuel K. Doe, who ruled Liberia from 1980 until his death in 1990.
