By Staff Writer | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – The Unity Party Youth Congress has strongly defended Justice Minister and Attorney General Oswald Tweh following calls by National Youth Congress Chairman Melvin Cephas demanding his dismissal over alleged failures in prosecuting corruption-related cases under the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
In a detailed press statement issued Tuesday, May 12, 2026, and signed by Ambassador Evans B. Tuku, the UP Youth Congress Secretariat rejected Cephas’ criticisms and argued that the Ministry of Justice under Cllr. Tweh has made measurable progress in strengthening Liberia’s rule of law and criminal justice system.
The statement followed public criticism from Cephas, who described the Justice Minister as “dangerous” and “ineffective,” accusing him of failing to aggressively pursue corruption cases as promised by the Unity Party-led government. However, the UP Youth Congress said its review of the Ministry of Justice National Performance and Results Report covering January to November 2025 showed significant institutional improvements rather than failure.
“As the Head of Secretariat, I address our partisans and the Liberian public to provide clarity on the Administration’s rule of law achievements and a sober legal perspective on the recent verdict involving former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr.,” Ambassador Tuku stated.
Defending the ministry’s performance, the UPYC highlighted what it described as concrete achievements under the Attorney General’s leadership, including a reported 62.5 percent conviction rate representing 60 convictions out of 96 criminal trials prosecuted during the review period.
“Under Cllr. Tweh’s leadership as Attorney General, the Ministry of Justice has recorded tangible, data-driven progress that strengthens Pillar III, Rule of Law, of the ARREST Agenda,” the statement declared.
The youth congress further praised the establishment of a whistleblower office and collaboration with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission in connection with the widely discussed US$6.1 million corruption case. According to the statement, these actions demonstrate that the administration is not merely discussing anti-corruption efforts but is building systems intended to improve accountability and investigations.
The statement also emphasized reforms in Liberia’s juvenile justice system, claiming that 422 juveniles were diverted away from adult detention facilities during the reporting period. According to the UPYC, the measure represents an important humanitarian intervention aimed at preventing young offenders from becoming hardened criminals within the prison system.
On infrastructure, the youth congress praised the Ministry of Justice for securing funding under the Public Sector Investment Project for the renovation of six prisons and the construction of a new correctional facility in Barclayville, Grand Kru County. Tuku further stated that the ministry has consistently ensured the provision of prison rations, medical supplies, drugs, and subsistence support for correctional institutions across the country.
The statement additionally focused heavily on the controversial economic sabotage case involving former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. and several co-defendants. While many members of the public criticized the acquittal of Tweah on multiple charges, the UP Youth Congress argued that the government still achieved major legal victories because three of the five defendants were convicted.
“The Solicitor General and State prosecutors successfully proved Mens Rea and Actus Reus against three of the five defendants,” the statement noted. “This is not a loss; it is a partial judgment.”
Addressing concerns surrounding Tweah’s acquittal, the UPYC argued that Liberians must understand the legal standards required in criminal prosecutions. According to Tuku, economic sabotage cases require direct evidence clearly linking an accused person to criminal intent and personal benefit. The statement suggested that prosecutors may have presented strong circumstantial evidence but lacked what it described as a “smoking gun” directly implicating Tweah.
The youth congress further defended the verdict as evidence of judicial independence and due process rather than weakness within the anti-corruption fight. “If the government jailed Tweah without absolute proof, we would be Weah 2.0,” the statement argued. “The Unity Party believes in due process. If the evidence on those specific counts was insufficient, accepting the court’s ruling proves we are different from the CDC. We respect the court and rule of law.”
In an effort to reshape public perception surrounding the verdict, the UPYC urged supporters to focus on the convictions secured against the co-defendants instead of concentrating solely on Tweah’s acquittal. The statement maintained that the key objective was to prove misuse of state resources and secure accountability where evidence existed.
“The story is not ‘Tweah walks.’ The story is: ‘Three former officials convicted for stealing US$6.1 million from Liberians,’” the statement asserted while calling for maximum sentencing and asset forfeiture against those convicted.
The youth congress also proposed that the government consider pursuing civil action against Tweah if criminal standards of proof could not be met. According to the statement, a civil suit based on “unjust enrichment” could potentially provide another legal pathway because the evidentiary threshold in civil proceedings is lower than in criminal cases.
Concluding the statement, Ambassador Evans B. Tuku urged party supporters and the public not to allow the acquittal of one defendant to overshadow what he described as progress in the government’s anti-corruption campaign. “The fight against economic sabotage continues,” the statement concluded. “One acquittal does not derail the ARREST Agenda.
