LIBERIA – The National Elections Commission (NEC) could face the wrath of the American government if it violates the Global Magnitsky sanctions which were placed on former and current Liberian government officials, according to credible sources.
The registration and accreditation of any of the five Liberians who are serving U.S. sanctions to contest and any legislative seat would be construed as a violation of the Global Magniysky sanctions, said a diplomatic source.
This latest information comes in wake of plans by former Minister of State Nathaniel McGill and former National Port Authority boss, Bill Twehway to contest senatorial seats in Margibi and Rivercess Counties respectively.
The NEC is being financed in part by United States taxpayers’ funds. And accrediting the two disgraced former public officials would be a serious violation of the U.S. sanctions, said our source.
This also means that Senators Prince Johnson and Varney Sherman will not contest the upcoming elections in 2023, because they will not be qualified by NEC; doing so, will put officials at the elections commission at risk of themselves being sanctioned.
Two days ago, U.S. Ambassador Michael McCarthy warned against doing business with Nathaniel McGill, Bill Twehway, and Others who were sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act.
“I think it’s important to draw our attention back to the Treasury Department’s statement, specifically its notification that persons that engage in certain transactions with these sanctioned individuals “may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action”, U.S. Ambassador Michael McCarthy warned violators of Globally Magnitsky sanctioned.
Speaking at a press roundtable yesterday, the U.S. Diplomat said “I also want to note that it was three months ago, almost to the day, that I announced to you in this room the Treasury Department’s Global Magnitsky sanctions of Nathaniel McGill, Bill Twehway, and Syrenius Cephus.”
He said it’s important to “Draw our attention back to the Treasury Department’s statement, specifically its notification that persons that engage in certain transactions with these sanctioned individuals may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action.”
Furthermore, Ambassador McCarthy said unless an exception applies, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for any of the individuals or entities could be subject to U.S. sanctions.
According to the Ambassador, this applies not only to those who transact with these three individuals but also to the other two individuals sanctioned under Global Magnitsky in recent years: Senator Prince Y. Johnson and Senator Varney Sherman.
Our sources said because NEC enjoys direct funding from the Americans, it will be unthinkable to violate the sanctions.
