MONROVIA – FrontPageAfrica has seen documents that present facts contrary to media reports that Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Kemayah was denied U.S. Visa and therefore could not be with President George Weah’s entourage in New York for the UN General Assembly.

By Lennart Dodoo, ldodoo@frontpageafricaonline.com

It has come to our attention that Minister Kemayah holds an A2 U.S. visa, as verified by FrontPageAfrica.

The A-2 visa is designated for full-time foreign government employees engaged in official business on behalf of their respective countries at U.S. embassies, consulates, missions, or military bases while on temporary duty (TDY) status.

Our investigations revealed that Minister Kemayah had an emergency medical appointment at the London Clinic in the United Kingdom, an urgent matter that could not be postponed.

In response to his unavailability at the United Nations and scheduled meetings, Minister Kemayah proactively communicated with the United States Embassy in Monrovia. He apprised the Embassy of his situation and notified them of his inability to attend the UN engagements. Furthermore, Minister Kemayah requested the Deputy Foreign Minister for Administration, Hon. Thelma E. Duncan-Sawyer, to represent him at these meetings and deliver his address in his stead.

The September 18 Note Verbal to the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia reads:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America near Monrovia, and has the honor to reference the 78^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and other U.S. Government-related meetings, H.E. Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet of the Republic of Liberia is expected to attend from September 15-23, 2023 in New York, United States of America.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia has the honor to inform that due to unavoidable pressing emergency engagements in London, United Kingdom, H.E. Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet of the Republic of Liberia is unable to attend the 78^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and other U.S. Government-related meetings.

In view of the above-mentioned, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia is pleased to inform that Hon. Thelma E. Duncan-Sawyer, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is accordingly heading the Delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the 78th UNGA, has been designated to represent Foreign Minister Kemayah at all activities of the aforementioned 78^th UNGA and U.S. Government related Meetings requiring his presence; respectively.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States near Monrovia the assurances of its highest consideration.

MONROVIA – Pres. George Weah has assured the world that next year’s election would be free, fair, and transparent.

Speaking at the 77^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, President Weah told world leaders that Liberia’s democracy is growing stronger than ever.

He said, “Democracy in Liberia also continues to grow from strength to strength. After many years of civil upheaval, Liberia is becoming a stronghold of peace and a safe haven for democracy.

Pres. Weah said democracy is thriving in Liberia because his administration has taken steps to strengthen institutions and created an environment where the press operates freely. He said the judiciary has also been empowered to function more independently.

Pres. Weah said: “We have put forward new legislation that empowers the media, while eradicating those that have tended to suppress free speech. I am proud to say that, from the beginning of my Administration to date, there is no political prisoner in Liberia.”

He said his government has taken a strong stand against the violation of the constitutional terms and has repeatedly called for strict adherence to the Constitutions in the West African region. He has also called for the return to democratic rule in cases of military takeovers.

He, however, called on all candidates partaking in the 2023 elections to avoid the incitement of violence, and any other behavior that could deprive the Liberian people of the peaceful space that they need to freely exercise their franchise, and freely express their political will in choosing their leaders.

This year’s assembly is being held under the theme: “A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges”.

Speaking further, the Liberian President told his counterparts that his administration’s agenda – the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development has taken into consideration the size of the youthful population in the country – more than 60% – and has therefore initiated a youth rehabilitation and empowerment program – the Socio-Economic Empowerment of Disadvantaged Youth Project between 2019 and 2021, with the subsequent launch of a US$13 million National Fund Drive for the rehabilitation and empowerment of at-risk youth in Liberia.

President Weah further told the UN 77^th General Assembly that his government prioritizes women’s empowerment and has been doing so through the development of a legal framework and the ratification of regional and international instruments to address gender inequalities which are being carried out as a result of socio-cultural perceptions, practices, and stereotypes that support male dominance and the subordination of women.

He said, “I would like to inform you that my government, together with UN partners, is implementing the EU Spotlight Initiative to end violence and harmful traditional practices against women and girlsand promote their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

“Furthermore, the Government of Liberia is currently implementing a 50-Million United States Dollars ECOWAS-funded project to enhance the capacity of female entrepreneurs.”

He said all these are efforts being made by his administration to work along with the United Nations family to protect the planet, promote peace, prevent conflicts, ensure sustainable financing, and boost partnerships.  

The Liberian President said the war in Ukraine has compounded the challenges that the world is faced with. He named economic downturn caused by the disruption of global supply chains, food insecurity, and rising prices of basic goods and services as a result of the war in Ukraine add up to the health and socio-economic challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He, however, said the United Nations will require immediate and collective global actions at the center of the search for solutions. He called for consideration and preference for the needs of developing countries, particularly least developed countries 

in line with the Doha Program of Action for Least Developed Countries for the Decade; 2022-2031.

He said, “Working together with the United Nations family, Liberia hereby commits to protect our planet, to promote peace, prevent conflicts, ensure sustainable financing, and boost partnerships.”

As part of his government’s contribution towards the fight against Climate Change, President Weah said Liberia continues to take actions through the formulation of new policy frameworks and strategic interventions to address the impacts of Climate Change and protect the environment. He said, Liberia commits to achieving a target of sixty-four (64%) percent reduction in carbon emission below business-as-usual by 2030.

We anticipate that the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt (COP 27), will provide the opportunity to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Washington – The George Weah-led government has taken serious exception to a report by blogger Michael Rubin in his 1945 blog post suggesting that the President and his delegation attending the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York were subjected to detention at the John F. Kennedy Airport for several hours while immigration and customs enforcement officials treated them as ordinary travelers rather than VIPs in a sign of the US’s growing frustration with the Weah administration.

Report by Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com

FrontPageAfrica has learned that no member of the Weah administration was issued a C2 visa on the current UNGA trip. While the report may have pulled information about an actual visa category, it doesn’t appear that the actual C2 visa was issued.

Rubin claimed in his 1945 blog post that after clearing custom, President Weah found himself without any security escort to Manhattan. “He then discovered that the State Department issued him and his delegation only C2 visas that restricted Weah and his entourage to the United Nations Headquarters District until his departure to the airport for his return trip. The regulations define the district as lying within a twenty-five-mile radius of Columbus Circle.”

Rubin describes himself as a 1945 Contributing Editor and a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).

Under Department of State (DOS) regulations in 22 C.F.R. 41.71 [link], an alien described in paragraphs (3), (4), or (5) of section 11 of the Headquarters Agreement with the United Nations may qualify for admission in the C2 category if he or she is applying for admission solely in transit to the United Nations Headquarters District.The regulation defines the “immediate vicinity of the United Nations Headquarters District” as the “area lying within a twenty-five mile radius of Columbus Circle, New York, NY.”

Mr. Lenn Eugene Nagbe, Commissioner of the Liberia Maritime Authority, who is on the President’s delegation to the UNGA, described the Rubin report, as nothing but a pack of lies from paid agents of Mr. Alexander Cummings, head of the opposition Alternative National Congress. “All this is sophomoric propaganda that is beginning to boomerang on the perpetrators. The writer is a paid hack plain and simple.”

Commissioner Nagbe continued: “It is totally preposterous and unfounded. It shows the extent and desperation that these hired guns, mercenaries of the pen that have been rented by Mr. Cummings will go. President Weah and the designated seven members of his entourage were escorted by at least six Secret Service agents to his convoy and driven away by police pilot. The President is being given all due courtesies with around-the-clock security protection. What’s the issue?”

Commissioner Nagbe said just last week, US President Joe Biden wrote another letter to President Weah regarding his attendance at the US-Africa Summit scheduled for December 13-15 in Washington DC. Just last week. “Do you invite a restricted person to your house?” the commissioner asked.

Commissioner Nagbe said both he and Gender Minister Piso Saydee Tarr completed a working session at the State Department to discuss preparatory issues for the Democracy Summit scheduled for early next year where the President is among just 18 African Presidents and other World leaders that have been invited. “Our relationship with the United States is strong.”