LIBERIA – Sources clearly state that two of three U.S.-sanctioned former Liberian government officials are doomed to contest for legislative seats in the pending 2023 general and presidential elections in the country.
The two former Weah officials, Minister of State Nathaniel F. McGill and National Port Authority Managing Director Bill Twehwey, accordingly paused to seek a legislative shield if the pair are elected in 2023.
Accordingly, the sources narrate, McGill is holding consultations with stakeholders in Margibi County to contest for the senatorial seat in the county.
McGill has disclosed in the past that his father hailed from Gbarpolu and his deceased mother hailed from Bong county and has been investing in Bong and Margibi counties in recent times, and may also contest for the senatorial seat in Bong county.
As for Bill Twehwey months was petitioned by citizens of Rivercess County to contest for the senatorial seat…
But their quests may be strongly opposed as the Political Leader of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP) and the former President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe is already calling on the country’s electoral body, National Elections Commission (NEC) to reject applications from any of the three senior former government officials who recently resigned as a result of the sanctions imposed on them by the United States.
The vocal human rights activist detected that the NEC is heavily supported by the US government during the electioneering period, and as such, he said the authorities of the commission should avoid being sanctioned by rejecting any application to contest the elections from the sanctioned former officials.
Cllr. Gongloe pointed out that the Magnisky Act calls on people to distance themselves from McGill, Tweahway, and Cephus, noting that, Liberians should not also be supporting them to excel in any elected position.
Saying, “Liberians should know better than the Americans are helping us and these are the people that have been stealing our monies and that has caused our country not to develop and more poverty in recent times. Now the US has clamped their wings, I don’t think that people should vote for them because those who are sanctioned are prohibited from benefiting from America in any way and using the US dollars.”
“To the extent that the US will be supporting the NEC as one of the countries within the International Community, I strongly believe that NEC should not even approve applications from these people because, by accepting their applications, the NEC may risk not being supported by the US government.”
The LPP leader maintained that the failure of the NEC to reject the applications of the men would be a clear violation of the Magnisky Act, which prohibits sanctioned individuals from benefiting from US resources.
“I strongly believe that they should not even be permitted to run because it will affect Liberia. If the Government of Liberia has the ability to support the electoral process 100%, they can do so. But to the extent that it depends on the American government money, the US will decide how its money should be used,” Cllr. Gongloe said.
Recently, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Nathaniel McGill, Solicitor General Cyrennius Cephus, and the Director of the National Port Authority (NPA) Bill Tweahway for acts of corruption. The sanctions fall under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
The trio has resigned from their government position.
