Airport Restricts Access, Regulates Traffic as CDC Mobilizes Supporters for Former President
Monrovia — Security has been heightened at Roberts International Airport (RIA) ahead of the arrival of former President George Manneh Weah on Wednesday, with the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) introducing special measures to manage the anticipated movement of passengers, supporters and dignitaries.
The LAA Aviation Security Department (ASD) said all well-wishers intending to welcome Weah must gather at the RIA Public School, while only designated supporters appointed by the former president’s organizing committee will be permitted beyond the designated point.
The measures are part of arrangements to ensure what airport authorities described as a smooth, secure and orderly arrival of the former president, who is expected to touch down at RIA later today.
In a public safety announcement issued for September 2, the Aviation Security Department advised passengers traveling through the airport to arrive earlier than their usual scheduled time to avoid delays.
The announcement also warned that vehicular and pedestrian traffic around the airport would be regulated by the Joint Security, with members of the public instructed to follow directions from security officers deployed to the area.
Despite the special arrangements, the LAA said normal airport operations would continue.
The heightened security follows a September 1 communication from LAA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ernest R. Hughes to CDC National Chairman Janga Augustus Kowo, formally notifying the party of Weah’s scheduled arrival through RIA.
Hughes said stakeholders had been provided with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the efficient coordination of operational, security, protocol, safety and facilitation arrangements associated with the former president’s arrival.
He urged all relevant agencies and service providers to take the necessary measures within their respective mandates to ensure a seamless and secure reception in line with established airport procedures and applicable regulations.
CDC Mobilizes for Weah
Meanwhile, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is mobilizing partisans and supporters to turn out in large numbers to welcome Weah, who remains the party’s political leader.
A special steering committee established to coordinate activities surrounding his arrival has also submitted a list of 20 persons to the Liberia Airport Authority for access to the airport to participate in his official reception.
The committee, chaired by former House Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chambers, said the designated individuals would help coordinate the reception, subject to all airport security and operational protocols.
The former president’s return comes after a series of engagements outside Liberia, including stops in Ghana and Nigeria.
In Ghana, Weah participated in a charity football match, while in Nigeria he served as keynote speaker at an annual event of the Nigerian Bar Association.
Return Amid Drug Case Fallout
Weah’s return also comes against the backdrop of a major drug trafficking and money laundering case involving his former Vice President, Jewel Howard Taylor.
Taylor, who served as vice president during Weah’s 2018–2024 administration, is facing prosecution in connection with the government’s investigation into the seizure of a cocaine consignment valued at approximately US$317 million.
Weah has publicly rejected the allegations against his former vice president, describing the charges as bogus and pledging his support for Taylor.
Her prosecution has generated intense political debate, with the CDC and other political actors raising questions about the government’s handling of the narcotics investigation.
With supporters expected to converge around the airport area, authorities are urging the public to comply with security instructions as they seek to balance the anticipated welcome with normal airport operations.
The LAA has appealed for the cooperation and understanding of passengers, well-wishers and other stakeholders, saying the measures are intended to ensure safety, security and an orderly reception.
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