By: Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com

The Citizens Action Committee, a conglomeration of five civil society organizations in Liberia is critically awakened to the FrontPage Africa Newspaper’s boldface headline “Like Weah, Boakai and Koung ignored major red flags on Criminal Nominee” for Justice Minister”, in which the paper render Justice Minister Designate, Cllr. Cooper Kruah is a corrupt figure through the narration of issues that lack validity and substance. In its January 29, 2024 Edition, the FrontPage Africa Newspaper linked Cllr. Cooper Kruah to Cllr. Charles Gibson whose appointment as Justice Minister was withdrawn by President Weah due to some corrupt accusations on his character.

In a press conference, a civil society organization under the banner Citizens Action Committee (CAC) strongly condemned the recent publication by FrontPage Africa Newspaper that labeled Justice Minister Designate, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, is a corrupt figure.

The CAC, which is made up of five civil society organizations in Liberia, has described the allegations as baseless and politically induced including the Progressive Student Alliance of Liberia, Youths for Democratic Action, Intellectual Student Movement of Liberia, Southeast Youths & Student Alliance of Liberia, and the National Youths Council of Liberia.

speaking at the Press Conference in Monrovia on Monday, January  29, 2024, the group  Chairperson Prince Grandoe called on the Honorable Liberian Senate to confirm Cllr. Cooper Kruah as Justice Minister of Liberia urged the Senate to not be swayed by the unfounded accusations.

On January 29, 2024, FrontPage Africa Newspaper link President Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung ignored major red flags on a criminal nominee for Justice Minister.

The FrontPage Africa Newspaper also likened Cllr. Kruah to Cllr. Charles Gibson whose appointment as Justice Minister was withdrawn by former President Weah due to some corrupt accusations on his character.

According to Grandoe, the publication made by FrontPage Africa has no validity or substance.

 “The Citizens Action Committee wants to make it clear that Cllr. Cooper Kruah is one of Liberia’s legal luminary who possesses the needed legal understanding and experience to serve as Attorney General or Justice Minister of the Republic of Liberia” Grandoe noted.              

The CAC has pointed out that the similarities drawn between Cllr. Cooper Kruah and Charles Gibson are inconsistent and Cllr. Kruah’s character and professional performance should not be disparaged.

“The CAC has also dismissed the accusations of abuse against women and has called on the Senate to confirm Cllr. Cooper Kruah without any conditions”. He noted.

The publication does not only lack substance and materiality to deny Cllr. Cooper the Justice Minister Job, but also intended to disparage or vilify the level of professional performance and contributions he has made in the legal field. The Citizens Action Committee views the similarity drawn by FrontPage Africa between Cllr. Cooper Kruah and Charles Gibson as erratic and inconsistent.

In the case of Cllr. Gibson, the Grievance and Ethics Committee of the Supreme Court found him guilty and the committee’s report was endorsed by the Supreme Court and Cllr. Gibson had to restitute the money.

Unlike that, based on the lack of evidence to back up the Grievance and Ethics Committee’s guilty decision against Cllr. Cooper Kruah, the report was rejected and not acted upon by the Supreme Court.

 The case involved Mano River Agriculture Rehabilitation & Development Corporation (MARDCO) and Cllr. Cooper Kruah about monies he received from legal representation he made on their behalf is a tale of a story being told by the FrontPage Africa Newspaper. 

Our investigation established that the money was taken by Cllr. Kruah from the amount of US$108,941.65 he received on behalf of MARDCO was his legal representation fees agreed upon by both parties”.

The CAC has however commended President Joseph Boakai for the appointment of Cllr. Cooper Kruah and expressed its support for the Justice Minister Designate.

” We commend President Joseph Boakai for the appointment of Cllr. Cooper Kruah as Justice Minister, and call on the Honorable Liberian Senate to unconditionally confirm him” He concluded.