By Allison Abe Sumo
Monrovia, Liberia – Former President George Manneh Weah has sharply criticized the Boakai Administration’s handling of the ongoing cocaine investigation, accusing the government of politically targeting members of the former administration while pledging to mobilize the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).
In a statement issued Wednesday, Mr. Weah condemned the government’s decision to prevent former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor from traveling amid the investigation, describing the action as an alleged violation of her constitutional rights. He said Mrs. Taylor had denied the allegations against her and characterized the government’s actions as part of what he called growing “authoritarian tendencies” under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
While stating that he supports lawful efforts to combat drug trafficking, the former president questioned the government’s handling of the investigation. He argued that the discovery of two major cocaine shipments, reportedly worth nearly half a billion dollars, occurred after his administration had peacefully transferred power to the Boakai government. Mr. Weah accused the administration of attempting to establish political connections between the cocaine case and the CDC while, in his view, failing to adequately address allegations involving some current government and security officials.
The former president also disclosed that he has been engaging regional and continental leaders over what he described as concerns about Liberia’s democratic governance and the rule of law. He said he plans to return to Liberia and mobilize the CDC and other “well-meaning Liberians” to challenge what he termed an attempt to undermine the country’s democracy.
“We must all resist” what he described as President Boakai’s attempt to rule as a tyrant, Mr. Weah said, adding that the CDC would pursue political and legal avenues guaranteed under the Liberian Constitution.
The statement comes as the Boakai Administration continues its investigation into an alleged transnational drug-trafficking network. Government authorities have maintained that the investigation is focused on establishing accountability in the cocaine case, while individuals named or implicated in the probe retain the right to due process and legal representation.
