Monrovia – There are worrying concerns over the state of affairs of the country including sourcing a US$1 billion in two separate loans and the failure of state officials to declare their assets.
Some political pundits, including a pro-democracy group, People’s Action Network are now calling for “smart sanctions” to be placed on the country.
Rufus Neuville, Executive Director of the group, argues that a sanction would enable the international community properly checkmate the Weah administration since it cannot checkmate itself.
“The smart or targeted sanctions will protect the general population and serve as a pressure on officials of the Liberian government to adhere to internationally accepted best practice,” Neuville told a news conference Tuesday.
Neuville is a former Representative of Montserrado County District Number Two in the 52nd Legislature on the ticket of the Congress for Democratic Change.
He said smart sanctions are meant to focus the international community impact on leaders, political elites and segments of society that are directly responsible for intolerable conduct, such as the mortgaging of a country’s natural resources with barefaced disregard for the laws.
According to Neuville, the deliberate negation of Weah’s and his officials to declare their assets since their ascendency, makes it difficult to know their current wealth and paves a way for rampant corruption.
Only smart sanctions, according to him, would draw the attention of the international community to properly investigate wealth accumulated by officials of the pro-poor administration before their coming to offices.
He expressed fear that in the absence of international community involvement in checkmating Weah and his officials, Liberia would experience grave money laundering and widespread corruption in Liberia.
Neuville wants the United States Government to take the lead in imposing a sanction on the Weah administration for what he sees as rapidly increasing the wealth of the President and some senior government officials.
“Smart sanctions will target the rapidly increasing wealth of President George M. Weah and senior government officials,” Neuville stressed.
“It will also ensure the monitoring of bank accounts and impose travel restrictions on select government officials.”
The former CDC lawmaker referenced the move by President Weah to sign loan agreements and construction of new homes as well purchasing of new homes by senior public officials without regards to the LACC mandates as traits of “creeping dictatorship in Liberia”.
“Many things have happened of late, but these issues border on the survivor of the state and if not address will end up with a dictatorial government that could undermine the growth and development of the state.”
“The essence of that law is to checkmate government officials so that you don’t come to government with one pair of shoes and in six years you have 25 stores or 50 stores.”
President George M. Weah has submitted a new Pre-Financing Loan Agreement in the tone of US$426 Million to the National Legislature but its yet to be placed on the floor.
Under the Agreement the loan will be financed by EuroBond, redeemable after 15 years with a 5-year grace period and a 10-year interest only on payment.
Group EBOMAF will begin pre-financing the road project within three months after the agreement is ratified.
Nueville said while his group does not oppose the building of roads, it is important to note that the deal is coated with conflict of interest.
“This is a violation of section 9.1 of the Code of Conduct which states Public Officials and Employees of Government shall not receive nor encourage the giving of any form of bribe or casual gift in connection with the performance of his or her official duties, whether for himself or herself or members of his or her family or any other benefits that could have any influence on his or her professional approach to issues and the discharge of his or her official duties,” Neuville explains.
This, according to him, is worrisome amid fears of terrorism when monies are hidden in poor countries under dubious circumstances.