Monrovia – The Secretary General of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson Tamba Koijee, has leveled serious allegations against the management of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), accusing it of engaging in secret petroleum importation deals that bypass legal procurement processes.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972) – websterclayeh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Speaking at a press conference in Monrovia, Koijee claimed that LPRC, under the leadership of Managing Director Amos Tweh, has imported petroleum products without conducting an international tender, a move he described as a “direct assault on the Liberian people.”

“Fellow Liberians, what is unfolding at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company is nothing short of a carefully orchestrated fraud against the Liberian people,” Koijee declared.

While the LPRC has yet to issue an official response, Koijee referenced the amended and restated Public Procurement and Concessions Act, which mandates that all public procurement must go through the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC). He alleged that the LPRC’s recent petroleum importation did not follow this legal process.

“Today, Amos Tweh, the Secretary General of the Unity Party who now sits as Managing Director of the LPRC, has brazenly violated this law by secretly importing petroleum products without any international tender,” Koijee said.

He further alleged that the move is part of a broader scheme to enrich members of the ruling Unity Party and potentially manipulate the outcome of the 2029 elections.

“This is not just mismanagement, it is a deliberate criminal conspiracy designed to rob our nation of hundreds of millions, enrich a small circle of Unity Party loyalists, and quietly prepare the ground to rig the 2029 elections,” he warned.

Koijee challenged the Liberian public to demand accountability and answers from the LPRC leadership. He raised a number of pressing questions regarding the legitimacy of the petroleum contract:

“Was the contract subjected to PPCC processes? What is the value and duration of the contract? Which company was selected, and under what terms? Was a “No Objection” from the PPCC obtained?” He asked.

Koijee added: “Amos Tweh and his Unity Party cartel are using the LPRC as their private bank, looting public funds and enriching themselves while the majority of our people struggle to buy a cup of rice or a gallon of gasoline.”

He went on to describe the alleged actions as “organized economic gangsterism” disguised as governance.

“We say enough is enough. Liberia is not for sale to a cartel of greedy men who think state power is a business venture. We will not remain silent while they mortgage our future and use petroleum dollars as a war chest to hijack the will of the people in 2029,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Koijee called on both the Liberian public and the international community to take note of what he termed “economic crimes” being committed under the Unity Party-led administration.

“Let the nation and the world hear this loud and clear: the Liberian people are not asleep. We will resist with every fiber of our being. This country belongs to all of us, not to a handful of thieves hiding under the Unity Party banner,” he said.

As of press time, the LPRC has not responded to the allegations.

Monrovia – Former Monrovia Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee, who was previously accused of involvement in human rights violations and criminal activities, has called on the Boakai-led government to either investigate and prosecute him or clear his name. Koijee, who served under former President George Weah, maintains that accusations against him were politically motivated.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com

His challenge comes amid mounting concerns over the state of justice and security under President Joseph Boakai’s administration, with critics accusing the government of shielding alleged criminals while using state institutions to target political opponents. The growing unease follows a series of unresolved cases, allegations of human rights violations, and claims of selective justice.

Koijee argues that despite repeated claims linking him to acts of violence, including mysterious killings and disappearances, no credible legal action has been taken against him. Meanwhile, he alleges that individuals who accused him in the past now hold key positions in the current administration without facing scrutiny.

Unresolved Cases and Allegations of Selective Justice

Koijee points to the handling of high-profile cases, such as the murder of Charloe Musu, as evidence of a justice system plagued by inconsistencies. Former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott, who was arrested in connection with the case, was later freed and appointed to a government position, raising concerns about potential political influence in the judiciary.

He outlined several other unresolved cases, including the deaths of a 45-year-old woman in Lofa County, a 19-year-old suspect in police custody, and businessman Hassan Jalloh, who was allegedly killed by security forces, have fueled accusations that law enforcement agencies are failing to ensure justice.

Rising Human Rights Concerns

Reports of police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and human rights violations under Boakai’s administration have raised alarms among activists and opposition figures. Some claim that security forces are being used to suppress dissent rather than protect citizens.

According to Koijee, at least 22 cases of alleged human rights violations have been documented during the administration’s first year in office. However, the government has yet to respond comprehensively to these claims or provide updates on investigations into the alleged abuse. “These are just a handful of the 22 documented human rights violations under Boakai’s first year in power—yet there has been no international outcry, no sanctions, no demands for accountability. Why? Because the perpetrators are Boakai’s allies,” Koijee said.

He continued: “The so-called “new dawn” of Joseph Boakai’s administration has quickly revealed itself to be nothing more than a charade—a government that thrives on hypocrisy, shields criminals, and weaponizes justice to target political opponents while indulging in corruption and gross human rights violations.”

Calls for Accountability

As concerns grow, calls for accountability and transparency are increasing. Koijee and other opposition figures argue that the government must demonstrate its commitment to the rule of law by ensuring fair and impartial investigations into all allegations, regardless of political affiliation.

Meanwhile, some civil society groups and international partners are urging the administration to take concrete steps to restore public confidence in Liberia’s justice system and security sector.

Seeking International Community’s Intervention

Koijees claims were backed by a US-based justice group, the Panoramic Justice Group. In January, the human rights watchdog issued a damning report on alleged human rights abuses under the administration of Liberian President Joseph N. Boakai.

In separate letters addressed to Honorable Christopher H. Smith, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Africa in the U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the group detailed a litany of violations that they claim threaten to reverse nearly two decades of democratic progress in Liberia.
Dr. Garkpe Gedepoh, the group’s Executive Director and a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, warned that Liberia is rapidly descending into authoritarianism, with security forces supplanting democratic institutions. “At the rate of these abuses, Liberia is fast descending into a security nation where the security forces have replaced democratic institutions,” Dr. Gedepoh wrote, urging the U.S. government to intervene and prevent a rollback of democratic gains.

Expressing these sentiments, the former Mayor of Monrovia further noted that the situation in Liberia is dire and the Boakai’s administration is running the country into the ground, using state institutions to target opponents while shielding criminals and human rights violators.
“The world must not turn a blind eye to the hypocrisy and brutality unfolding in Liberia. We deserve a government that prioritizes accountability and the rule of law, not one that silences dissent and protects the guilty,” Koijee declared.
The Boakai administration is yet to respond to Koijee’s latest criticism. However, in 2024, information Minister Jerolinmek Piah accused the CDC- led government in which Koijee served, of bad human rights records and pillaging the country, noting that officials were bent on using state resources to enrich themselves.

With the country facing mounting challenges, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether President Boakai’s government can address these concerns and uphold its promise of justice and accountability for all Liberians.

Monrovia – The Secretary General of Liberia’s former ruling political party, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Jefferson Tamba Koijee says the Joseph Nyuma Boakai-led administration has indulged in acts that target political actors and ordinary people to the extent that some citizens have lost their lives at the behest of state security forces.

He said one stance is the repeated infiltration of the CDC headquarters by the Police in the name of confidence patrol at one point and enforcement of search and seizure warrant in the space of one month. During these provocative actions, ordinary Liberians lost their property and others got seriously injured. “This is not what the people signed up for. These are the undemocratic vices that underpinned the civil war in this country and the scars of those moments are still fresh on the minds of Liberians. We know what happened when certain political parties and stakeholders were targeted. The Unity Party Government is nurturing those ugly moments that we do not wish to be reminded about,” SG Koijee indicated.   

According to him, while the dust remains unsettled on the police action, the President is weaponizing the courts against the CDC and other political stakeholders so much that the legal system is becoming inundated with political maneuvering including the manipulation of the case involving owners of the property the CDC occupies as its headquarters to evict the main opposition. “The decision to manipulate the courts against the CDC is counterproductive and tantamount to fermenting chaos in the country. We are asking our International partners to call this government to order,” he emphasized.

He disclosed that President Boakai has deceptively told the world at the United Nations General Assembly that his government is committed to upholding the rule of law and respecting political freedom when the reality back home contradicts that assertion.

“He told the UNGA that his government is committed to upholding rule of law and political freedom but Liberians are being dismissed from their jobs simply because they belong to a political party. He is masterminding the eviction of the CDC from its national headquarters by undermining the legal process through the court that would identify the actual owner of the property to pave the way for negotiation to purchase the facility. This is deception of the highest order,” the CDC Secretary General stressed.

The CDC Chief Scribe told a news conference on the afternoon of September 23, 2024, in Monrovia that the Unity Party that came to power on the pedestal of rescuing Liberia from its nearly two centuries of backwardness has, at the pace of lightning, metamorphosed into a risky mission with tenets of bad governance, widespread looting of state coffers, killing, weaponizing the judiciary against opposition political parties and, the surreptitious altering of national budget to serve of the political interest of the President while critical sectors remain abandoned.

He stated that in June of this year, the National Legislature passed the National Budget with strategic recommendations. The budget was altered by the President’s office through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning before it was printed into a handbill. The lawmakers discovered that the budget document was altered and an amount of US$20 million was moved to other places not initially considered without the acquiescence of the National Legislative in contravention of the law.

Koijee emphasized that this action is criminal and signals brazen disregard for the country’s governance structure that gives the National Legislature the legal authority to deal with the allocation of funds in the national budget. “It also points to potential corruption at the peril of national development efforts that would benefit the citizenry. This is very concerning and the CDC is demanding accountability,” he stressed.

While civil servants are grasping for straws to feed their families and pay school fees, the former ruling party’s stalwart said President Boakai is allegedly carrying US$100,000.00 on his credit card just for entertainment alone. He added that this is why all the President’s trips have not yielded any tangible benefits because the Unity Party-led government is on a merrymaking expedition with no regard for the plight of the Liberian people.

In addition to the President’s elaborate entertainment funds, the CDC Secretary General raised eyebrows on the recent off-budget expenditures reported by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFPA) which revealed several controversial expenses by the UP-led government from January to August 2024. “Under one year, state resources are bearing the brunt of wonton looting.

Koijee pointed out that the Liberian government allocated US$2,307,609 to “unexplained miscellaneous” expenses and US$2.5 million for covert operations through the National Security Agency (NSA). The House of Representatives spent US$1.5 million on special sessions, while the Senate expended US$812,612 for similar purposes. He bemoans the astronomical amounts being spent outside of the budget leaving much to desire for a struggling nation like Liberia under a government that promised to offer the Liberian people better leadership and governance.

“It is sad that the government, under the leadership of President Boakai is spending millions of United States Dollars on covert operations like the country is in danger especially when hospitals and schools are in dire straits for support.

The Secretary General of the CDC Koijee is also calling for further investigation into the death of Miss Charloe Musu, since Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott was acquitted by the Supreme Court. The 39-year-old CDC stalwart of the former ruling party said “Those who accused me of masterminding the death of this promising young lady are now in power. I want them to investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to book. I am available to face any investigative panel if invited. The hasty request by the family to bury the remains of Miss Musu is worrisome and a potential attempt to undermine any effort to find the real killer of the late Charlotte.

The fact that the former Chief Justice went to jail on allegations of murder and criminal conspiracy should push her to seek further investigation to find the actual killer instead of hurriedly seeking to demand that the girl be buried.”

He added that all those named by Cllr. Jerome J Verdier Sr. are still available to face any investigation to find the perpetrator. “We were in power and they accused us of not doing the right thing to find the alleged killer. “We are not in power anymore. They (our accusers) are in power now. Let them investigate the matter to give the young lady justice,” he added.

Monrovia – Jefferson Tamba Koijee, the Secretary General of the Coalition of the Democratic (CDC) is calling the newly inducted President Joseph Boakai to make known his medical status a day after heat exhaustion caused him to halt his inaugural speech.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)-websterclayeh@frontpageafricaonline.com

During the inauguration ceremony for President Boakai, the event came to a temporary halt as the 79-year-old leader reportedly experienced heat exhaustion during his inaugural address.

President Boakai was sworn into office at midday, on Monday January 22, 2024. He was delivering his inaugural speech for over 30 minutes when the incident occurred.

Under the scorching sun, the temperature in Monrovia was 29 degrees Celsius. Dressed in a traditional country cloth attire, President Boakai began to show signs of distress due to the high temperature.

The President, visibly affected by the heat, was assisted to a seated position, where security officers promptly stepped in to fan him to help him cool off, but the President still could not continue with his speech.

Despite the unexpected interruption, sources confirm that President Boakai is in good condition but speaking to the press a day after the incident, the Secretary General of the CDC said Liberians both home and abroad need to know the status of the man that occupies the highest seat in the land.

“Boakai should understand he occupies the highest office of the land, and that office should be very transparent; we call for an unconditional release of his medical record. Liberians deserve better,” the CDC Secretary General said.

Koijee added: “We are very concerned about President Boakai. We think he is President for everybody. We are very concerned about President Boakai’s health. He is our President, and we are going to pray for him. We do not want anything to happen to him. It is not just about the Unity Party partisans again; he is President for every one of us. The government now must explain to us and give us the actual account, we should not be second guessing. They should tell us about his health, they need to be transparent about that.”  

At the inaugural ceremony, the heat exhaustion caused the death of one person. Also, several others including two securities, one from the Armed Forces of Liberia and the other from the Executive Protection Service also collapsed because of heat exhaustion.  

Still speaking, Koijee says there should be an investigation to ascertain what went wrong on the day of the inauguration.

“Circumstances surrounding fainting and death of people at what should be a joyous occasion as inauguration need to be investigated,” Koijee said.

He said: “There is news filtering from the inauguration where people fainted and lost their lives. It is not just to be told. We need President Boakai and the new leadership; we need a criminal investigation. Inauguration is not the place for people to be fainting and dying.”

MONROVIA – The outgoing Monrovia City Mayor and Secretary General of the Coalition for Democratic Change, Jefferson Tamba Koijee has strongly issued an early warning to the Unity Party government stating the party’s readiness to resist any form of intimidation.

By: Blamo N. Toe/Contributing Writer

It was an emotional and tearful moment when hundreds of the employees of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) gathered at the outside facility of the Monrovia City Hall to bid farewell to City Mayor Jefferson Tamba Koijee on Friday, January 19, 2024.

Koijee without mincing his words firmly stated that the Unity Party government headed by President-elect Ambassador Joseph Boakai and Vice President-elect, Jeremiah Kpan Koung will be sadly mistaken if their regime will come to the public space with intimidation.

“If you come here and think it is the order of the day, you are sadly mistaken, my good friend,” he emphasized.

Koijee told the huge gathering that the ruling and soon to be opposition party, the Coalition for Democratic Change, is fully prepared to stand tall more than ever before against forms of harassment and intimidation on the ordinary citizens by the UP Administration.

He stressed that the CDC has proven to have greater love for the country and its people than any political party as evident by the concession speech delivered by President George Manneh Weah following the November 14, 2023 presidential run-off election and subsequent pronouncement of results by the National Elections Commission.

As such, Jefferson Koijee maintained that the CDC will jealously support any policy initiated by the Unity Party Administration in the interest of the citizens, adding that anything falls short of that, the party (CDC) will not succumb to the incoming government.

“Anything that means well for this country, we will support it. But what we will not support is very clear; if you come here and think that you have an opportunity and that opportunity is a death sentence, we want to say you are sadly mistaken,” he averred.

While lauding President George Weah for affording him the opportunity to serve his country, the outgoing Monrovia City Mayor disclosed that except his Holy Bible which depicts his religious faith (Christian), he is leaving the office of the City Mayor well-furnished without taking anything with him.

“Officially today [Friday, January 19, 2024], we presented our turnover not to the President [Weah] and we will be waiting for the Mayor that will come here to present to him our turnover note and as we leave from, we’ll take the media to our office and tell them, we met an office that was empty; we refilled it and we’ll leave it there. The only thing we will take is our Holy Bible,” Jefferson Tamba Koijee intoned.

Jefferson Tamba Koijee, then National Youth League Chair of the CDC, was appointed to the position by the Liberian leader in 2018 and later confirmed by the Liberian Senate before assuming official national duties as Monrovia City Mayor.

The Secretary-General of Liberia’s ruling party, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson Tamba Koijee, is rallying citizens to refrain from acts that would undermine democracy and peace in the country in the aftermath of the results of the just-ended 2023 presidential election.

The CDC Chief Scribe said partisans of the party should be wary of those who would want to use their political defeat at the polls to foment violence under the guise of being supporters and partisans of President George Weah and the CDC. He spoke at a press conference on the evening of November 19, 2023, at the party’s headquarters in Congo Town, Monrovia.

SG Koijee applauded President Weah for his magnanimity in accepting the outcome of the 2023 polls, which is an unprecedented display of patriotism and putting the well-being of the country above his personal ambitions to become president at all costs.

Here is the full text of the CDC Secretary-General’s statement verbatim:

“We want to congratulate all our collaborating parties for your hard work and dedication during these electioneering periods. We want to warn those who are spies and pretending to be members of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) with evil intentions to manipulate our partisans and supporters.

We know our partisans very well. They are sober, peaceful, and resilient people. No political party has withstood intense provocations and remained peaceful like we did for 12 years in opposition to the extent that our partisans and supporters were killed.

The CDC and its supporting political institutions went into this process with their all. We want to warn some of you who are pretending to be partisans and spreading false rumors that the CDC is calling for a rerun. That is false and misleading. Do not mislead our partisans. At no time did the CDC call for a rerun. There were issues in a few places in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, and Grand Kru Counties. Those issues are being handled by the relevant people with the National Elections Commission (NEC). I want to call on partisans of the CDC not to allow themselves to be misled at this time because there are people who will come to you under the guise of being partisans of the Coalition for Democratic Change to feed you with misinformation and disinformation with the evil intent to misrepresent the institution during this critical period in our body politics.

You fought a good fight. I want to encourage you to listen to us to provide direction for you. Do not allow yourselves to be deceived. The President has spoken very clearly, and he will be having a conversation with all of you. CDCians from across the world, we appreciate you. You have demonstrated your commitment and love for the President and the CDC. Please remain law-abiding. There’s time for everything. This time, we have committed ourselves to a peaceful, transparent, and credible election. We will act responsibly, and we want you to give deaf ears to misleading information that would push you to engage in acts that will undermine the peace of our country. Any negative actions taken by anyone claiming to be a partisan of the CDC will not be condoned. If your action is in contravention of our calls for you to be peaceful and law-abiding, you will bear the consequences of those actions alone. We will condemn you.

The party structure will not accept acts that are counterproductive. We encourage you to be steadfast and calm. Do not take any unlawful actions. Follow the direction of your leaders, remain circumspect and act within the confines of the law. The President has spoken to the nation and the world. He will be speaking directly to you, his supporters and partisans. As a ruling party, he has a responsibility to protect the peace of this country and ensure the right thing is done. When the National Elections Commission gives the final results announcing the winner, we will officially congratulate the winner as a responsible and democratic institution. We appreciate the decision of the President to accept the outcome of the election as a leader who puts the well-being of his people and country above personal ambitions. I want you to give deaf ears to the misinformation and disinformation that are being spread around by evil-minded individuals. They don’t mean well for you. They see violence as their mainstay to remain relevant in society at the detriment of the vast majority of the population. We do not want them to succeed in deceiving you. No matter how hurt and broken you are as a result of the outcome of the election, we call on you to be sober and peaceful. We will remain here and provide guidance to you on the future direction of our party.” Mayor Jefferson Koijee comments at a press conference yesterday, November 19, 2023, at the headquarters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).