By Elijah Luo Nuah
After being lynched by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for alleged massive corruption, drug trading, money laundering, etc, the Liberian Government headed by former soccer star, George Weah, further embarrassed itself with contradicting press statement revealing the alleged signing of a US$50 Billion carbon credit deal with Blue Carbon of the United Arab Emirates.
A press statement signed by Information Minister Lergerhood Rennie and released to the public said Liberia is to benefit from the United Arab Emirates’ 50-billion Blue Carbon Initiative as a result of the visit of President George Manneh Weah to the UAE.
The statement released a day ago, states that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement carbon removal projects in the forestry sector in Liberia has been signed under Article 6 of the 2015 Paris Agreement which represents an important step towards promoting sustainable forest management practices and fighting climate change across Liberia.
It says the MOU also aims at establishing a cooperation framework for the development of nature-based solution Projects in Liberia with Blue Carbon developing strategies to regulate carbon markets through transparency and audits for high-intensity carbon emissions throughout the country.
The statement further states that “this important milestone MOU is in keeping with President Weah’s advocacy at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, and COP 27 in Sham El Sheik, Egypt for under-develop countries like Liberia whose emission rates are very low to be highly supported by the industrialized nations whose emissions rates are very high to continue to maintain their nature-based emission structures like the forest.
“Blue Carbon will be responsible under the MOU to conduct feasibility studies, secure respective accreditation of the cooperation framework, and create the right structure. The company will also promote and engage the local communities to implement capacity-building initiatives for enhancing forestry initiatives in Liberia and is to create synergies and identify projects for COP 28 to be hosted in the UAE in 2023, including identifying forest areas and regions that can be utilized to earn carbon credits.
“Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. in remarks welcoming the signing of the MUO expressed his appreciation to Blue Carbon saying he is confident that the collaboration will help bolster Liberia’s goals to achieving Net Zero Carbon Emission seamlessly.
“He said Liberia under the leadership of President Weah has over the years been at the forefront of awareness about the importance of maintaining the forest ecosystem for long-term health benefits of the many forest communities in the country.”
Hardly did the ink dry on the CDC Government’s statement, when reactions started to come from Liberians all over the world regarding the truthfulness of the statement.
Exiled Liberian youth activist, Martin Mollie, called it “Another Lie of the Weah Government.”
Martin K. N. Kollie writes: “These are all mere propaganda and lies. UAE did not commit a dime to any climate change project in Liberia. No financing agreement was signed. Signing an MOU with a private business (Blue Carbon) in Dubai does not equate to any financing agreement with UAE either. No financial commitment was made anywhere with UAE. Big lie.”
Another Liberian Harris Yeah Bassah, based in the United States says 50 billion United States dollars is a very large amount of money.
He notes that this amount of money could be used to fund many different things, such as large infrastructure projects, scientific research, or social programs. It could also be used to start or expand a company, invest in the stock market, or purchase real estate. The possibilities are endless.
Research has shown that the United Nations (UN) budget for climate change including funding for various programs and initiatives aimed at addressing the issue of climate change has not reached US$1 Billion. The specific amount of funding allocated to climate change initiatives can vary from year to year, but the UN’s overall budget for climate change-related activities has been increasing in recent years.
For instance, in 2021, the UN’s budget for climate change-related activities was approximately $682 million. This funding supports a range of initiatives, including efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support adaptation and resilience to the impacts of climate change, and promote sustainable development.
While it is important to note that the UN’s budget for climate change is just one part of the overall global effort to address this critical issue, we are aware that many countries, organizations, and individuals are also investing significant resources into climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, recognizing the urgent need to take action to limit the impacts of climate change and protect our planet, yet there is not a record to show that any country has made donation or pledge of US$50 Billion to a single country that the Weah Government claimed it got from UAE.
Diverting the Embarrassing Lynching by the CIA
Some Leaders of nations lied for different reasons. There are different motivations behind leaders telling lies. Such behavior can be complex and varied. Some possible reasons why leaders may lie include: To gain or maintain power: Leaders may lie to manipulate public opinion or to cover up their own mistakes or wrongdoings in order to maintain their hold on power.
Other lied to protect national security: Leaders may lie about military operations or other sensitive information in order to protect their country from potential threats. Others lied to advance their own agenda: Leaders may lie to further their own political or personal interests, even if it is not in the best interest of their country or their constituents.
Better still, some Leaders may lie to avoid negative consequences or to shift blame onto others in order to protect their own reputation or avoid punishment.
It is important to note that while lying may be tempting for some leaders, it can also have serious consequences, both for the individual leader and for their country as a whole. Lying erodes public trust and can damage relationships.
The Liberian leaders fit any of the above reasons because he has a history of lying to govern Liberia. President tried to use lies to maintain his support base in the political landscape of Liberia. However, some of these lies are catching up with him-losing the confidence of some of his main support bases.
For instance, Weah had informed Southeasterners, his main support base he would pave their highway leading from Monrovia through the Coastal Highway project. He has since failed. Weah told Liberians he had negotiated with the Nigerian Government to bring 6000 Liberian teachers to Liberia to have them deployed in public schools nationwide. It turned out to be a lie.
Weah spoke about the construction of two bridges over the Du River. It also turned out to be a lie. We can go on and on.
But in this specific case of the US$50 Billion carbon deal from UAE, it was purposely crafted to divert his humiliation in the hands of the CIA during a recent visit to the U.S. Weah and his government deliberately told the lies to avoid answering to Liberians about his launching in the US.
These are election times in Liberia, Weah and his CDC Government are fighting tooth and nail to win a second term-a term that is hard to obtain in wake of reports that he getting married to a second wife in the person of a Ghanaian movie star. Just as he is uncontrollably building duplexes in Monrovia, he is accused of building a multi-million dollars mansion in Accra for his Ghanaian mistress.
In the meantime, the news is coming out that a group of Liberians are planning a protest against Weah for allegedly turning Liberians into a drug hub and allowing Islamic militants to launder money in Liberia for terrorist purposes against the US, Isreal, and other Western nations.
