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ADNews-Monrovia,Liberia; A growing number of former government officials from the administration of former President George Manneh Weah are facing arrests, indictments and prosecution over alleged corruption, narcotics trafficking and other offenses, prompting concerns among opposition figures, characterizing the action as a political witch-hunt aimed at weakening and silencing the opposition.
The former officials, many of whom served in senior positions during the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration, have increasingly been arrested, found themselves before the courts, or under investigation since the inauguration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Those targeted are former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, former Speaker of the House of Representatives J. Fonati Koffa, former Chief of Protocol Nora Finda Bundoo, and former Foreign Minister Maxwell Saah Kemayah Sr., among others, while several other former officials and political actors have reportedly left Liberia for fear of arrest or prosecution if they return to the country.
The opposition bloc has characterized government’s action as politically motivated, arguing that the government’s anti-corruption and law-enforcement campaign is disproportionately targeting individuals associated with the former CDC administration.
Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor recently became one of the most prominent former officials to face prosecution after being arrested and charged in connection with an investigation into an alleged transnational narcotics trafficking network.
She was arrested at the airport while leaving the country to attend a function in neighboring Ghana.
She faces charges including drug trafficking and money laundering, among other offenses, but denied wrongdoing.
Jewel was sent to prison, later released on Compassionate Release, and remains under house arrest with maximum state security while undergoing trial.
On the other hand, former Foreign Minister Maxwell Saah Kemayah Sr. and several other former officials have also faced prosecution over allegations surrounding the handling of rice donated to Liberia by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The defendants were accused of misappropriating rice valued at approximately US$425,918.
Kemayah and other accused persons were arrested and sent to Monrovia Central Prison before subsequently being released on bail pending trial.
The former officials have denied wrongdoing, while the case remains subject to judicial determination.
Meanwhile, former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa has experienced one of the most politically contentious trajectories among former officials.
Koffa, who overwhelmingly won the speakership election in 2024 during the early period of the Boakai administration, later became entangled in a political struggle that culminated in his forceful removal from the speakership.
After his forceful removal, he was subsequently accused, along with other legislators loyal to him, of an arson attack in connection with the fire at the Capitol Building.
Koffa and his allies in the 55th Legislature were detained at the Monrovia Central Prison, later released on bail, now facing prosecution.
Nora Finda Bundoo, Former Chief of Protocol to ex-President George Manneh Weah is another former official facing prosecution.
Bundoo was remanded at the Monrovia Central Prison after Criminal Court “C” rejected her request for bail, ending her temporary release as she faces multiple corruption-related charges.
She is among several former officials indicted following investigations initiated by a special government task force established by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration to investigate, recover, and account for alleged public assets.
Bundoo and other defendants are accused of involvement in the alleged diversion of more than US$6.7 million and L$845 million in public funds.
Bundoo has denied the allegations and maintains her innocence.
Beyond the high-profile cases before the courts, concerns have also emerged over former junior officials and political operatives associated with the CDC administration.
Paul Berry, who worked in Liberia’s diplomatic sector, is among those reportedly outside the country for fear of arrest or prosecution. According to information gathered, Berry and other former officials have sought refuge abroad amid fears of possible arrest should they return to Liberia, while their whereabouts remain unclear.
The continued investigations, arrests and prosecutions have created an atmosphere of fear among former government officials and CDC loyalists.
Targeting former government officials has intensified accusations among opposition that the Boakai government is using political power silence opposition figures and settle political scores.
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