Monrovia — Former Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel D. Tweah Jr., has paid an emotional tribute to his longtime confidant and former Chief of Staff, Cletus T. Noah, who died on May 3.
In a statement released on Tuesday -- his own 54th birthday -- Tweah remembered Noah as a man of extraordinary humility, faith, and loyalty, describing him as a "kindred soul" and a "tireless force for change."
"Cletus T. Noah is dead. Bob Cle is gone. Skip is no more. Busted Bearing has ended his journey," Tweah said, invoking the nicknames they shared from their student days at the University of Liberia.
Their friendship, which began in the late 1990s during their time as student activists, was built on shared ideals and political engagement. Tweah recounted Noah's early involvement with the Student Democratic Alliance (STUDA), his later alignment with the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), and his unwavering commitment to social and political transformation.
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
"He was never a bystander," Tweah said. "He was always close to the inroads of history, movements or causes."
A devout Catholic, Noah's religious discipline also left a deep impression on Tweah. "I don't believe he missed a single day of mass in nearly 30 years," he noted. "That kind of commitment is a super-human force to change the world."
Noah brought that commitment to his professional life, serving as Tweah's Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning from 2018. Tweah credited him with helping guide critical policy discussions and navigating the Ministry through challenging reforms.
"Cletus was a lynchpin in our work at the Ministry," he said. "He was the first to offer advice each morning, often before senior ministers arrived. His humility was his strength; his kindness, a gift; and his loyalty, a weapon."
Tweah also reflected on Noah's personal character -- his devotion to his children and adopted family, his willingness to share his last dime with friends, and his natural ability to ease tension and bring people together.
He recounted a pivotal moment following a protest involving former President George Weah. Concerned about the state of the country, Noah asked Tweah if a different path could be taken. "Fix the system and deal with the consequences," Noah had responded when Tweah laid out the administration's reform agenda.
Tweah emphasized that although death has silenced Noah's voice, his legacy endures. "While powerful in discontinuing life, death is impotent in annulling the impact of a life well lived," he said. "To his wife and children, I say thank you for sharing a kindred soul with so many. The warm army of friends and colleagues he built will keep their arms around you."
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
