Monrovia, Liberia – Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. is again under the long shadow of Liberia’s contentious US$25 million Mop-Up exercise as he attempts to disassociate himself from one of the nation’s most contentious financial operations, despite the public’s ongoing suspicion.
Speaking on the Spoon Mild Night Conversation over the weekend, Tweah vehemently denied any involvement in the US$25 million Mop-Up funds’ execution or distribution, stating that the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and its former Executive Governor, J. Aloysius Tarlue, Jr., bear full responsibility.
Tweah argues that the Central Bank acts independently and carried out the Mop-Up effort alone, claiming that his responsibilities as Finance Minister did not include monetary policy or currency injections.
The Central Bank operates on its own. The public is unaware of the amount of money printed by the Central Bank because it shouldn’t be political, but this circumstance forced them into it. The US$25 million Mop-Up exercise never engaged me. Tweah said, “That was never my role.”
He maintained, that the Central Bank’s monetary powers were transferred to the Economic Management Team (EMT), which he chaired, characterizing such accusations as politically motivated narratives intended to deceive the public. The EMT did not carry out financial operations, according to former Minister Tweah. The governor will inform you that Samuel Tweah had no involvement if you get in touch with the Central Bank. They reported to us, and I was only the EMT’s leader.
He revealed that the Central Bank, which reported stabilizing about LD$2 billion, carried out the Mop-Up immediately. He also stated that cabinet members had no supervisory responsibility over the operation because they were not auditors.
“The people investigated everybody. The committee meetings were cabinet sittings where the Central Bank reported. We were not supervising them. The President ordered an investigation, actions were taken against CBL officials, some were suspended, dismissed, and taken to court. But I cannot be touched because I played no role,” he added.
The Economic Management Team (EMT) was established to ensure productivity and sustainability in the nation’s economy, Tweah explained, adding that although meetings were held at the Central Bank, the EMT was never intended to monitor finances.
He further noted that the Central Bank Governor served as Co-Chair of the EMT by virtue of his position, not as a monitor, but to address issues related to shortages of goods and services, while Tweah chaired the team based on his ministerial role.
Reported by: Prince Saah
