- Samuel D. Tweah insists investigations should focus on WFP, not him.
- Tweah argues all COVID-19 funds were allocated directly to the WFP.
- He plans to take legal action against Stanton Witherspoon for defamation related to COVID-19 funds.
Tweah Denies Any Wrongdoing regarding COVID-19 Funds
Former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah is pushing back against allegations of mishandling COVID-19 stimulus funds and calling for investigations to be directed toward the World Food Programme (WFP) instead of himself. At a news conference in Congo Town, he firmly stated that the government should focus on WFP’s management of the funds rather than tarnishing his reputation. Tweah, who served during the pandemic, claims that his name has been unfairly sullied by rumors of mismanagement stemming from various media sources, especially from media personality Stanton Witherspoon.
Funds Were Managed by World Food Programme (WFP) Only
Tweah detailed that the funds in question amounted to US$30 million, which were originally disbursed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank for food distribution. He clarified that all the funds were directly allocated to the WFP, which was in charge of implementing the COVID-19 Household Food Support Program (COHFSP). According to Tweah, this arrangement was beneficial as it prevented any potential accusations of theft against Liberian governmental entities and placed all responsibility on the WFP for the expenditure and management of the funds.
Legal Action Planned Over Defamation Allegations
During the conference, Tweah also addressed claims regarding the reallocation of underutilized COVID-19 funds. He mentioned a request from current Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuah seeking clarification on the utilization of US$234,350 supposed to be used for a school feeding program. Tweah maintained that he had rejected the WFP’s prior attempts to reallocate these funds during his time as minister. He underlined the irony that despite the current minister now approving such reallocation, rumors about his arrests still persist. Furthermore, Tweah announced intentions to sue Stanton Witherspoon for defamation over what he described as egregiously misleading statements about his involvement with the COVID-19 funds.
In a firm rejection of allegations tying him to the misuse of COVID-19 stimulus funds, Samuel Tweah has directed his accusations toward the World Food Programme, firmly asserting his non-involvement. With plans for legal action against Stanton Witherspoon, Tweah seeks to rectify the misinformation being perpetuated about his role in the management of those funds. Ultimately, Tweah calls for a shift toward a constructive and truthful dialogue surrounding the issues faced by Liberia’s governance.
