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Liberia: U.S. Treasury Sanctions Senior Liberian Officials for Public Corruption
U.S. Treasury, 15 August 2022
Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Liberian government officials Nathaniel McGill, Sayma Syrenius… Read more »
U.S. Sanctions Senior Liberian Govt Officials for Corruption
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has named three Liberian government officials - Nathaniel McGill, Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and Bill Twehway - for their involvement in ongoing public corruption.
U.S. Ambassador to Liberia Michael McCarthy explained that the sanctions are against individuals, not against the country, the party, or the Weah administration. The U.S. Treasury said these officials are designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818.
The Executive Order builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world. The report on the trio says: "Nathaniel McGill used his position to undermine the integrity and independence of Liberia's democratic institutions and subvert government priorities for personal gain. Sayma Cephus developed close relationships with suspects of criminal investigations and received bribes from individuals in exchange for arranging for their cases to be dropped. Bill Twehway used his position at the National Port Authority to corruptly advance his own personal wealth and political agenda."
Liberia's Finance Minister Samuel Tweh, far left, Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Kemayah, and Chief of Staff Nathaniel McGill sit next to President George Weah during his tour of Montserrado County moments after the release of the US corruption report.
