By Amos Harris
IPNEWS: The Liberian Government has sharply rejected former President George Manneh Weah’s accusation that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is steering Liberia toward tyranny, insisting that the administration will not be intimidated into abandoning ongoing drug-trafficking prosecutions.
Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah said Tuesday that the government remains committed to enforcing Liberian law and will continue pursuing individuals accused of involvement in the country’s growing narcotics crisis, regardless of their political status or affiliations.
Minister Piah’s comments followed strong criticism from former President Weah over the arrest and detention of former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor.
Mr. Weah has described the development as evidence of authoritarian conduct and questioned whether the ongoing investigation into the reported US$317 million cocaine case is being used to pursue political opponents.
The former president has also vowed to return to Liberia and mobilize members of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and other citizens in response to what he considers growing political repression.
But the government has dismissed the allegations, arguing that the narcotics investigation should not be viewed through a political lens.
Minister Piah maintained that the prosecution of suspected drug traffickers is a matter of law enforcement and national security rather than political retaliation.
He further stressed that Taylor and other suspects are entitled to due process and a fair trial, but said those constitutional protections should not prevent the government from investigating allegations of serious crimes.
The government’s position, however, comes amid growing political tension over the high-profile drug investigation, particularly because several individuals linked to Liberia’s political and security establishment have reportedly come under scrutiny.
Critics of the administration argue that the government must demonstrate greater transparency in the investigation to convince the public that the prosecutions are being conducted independently and without political influence.
At the same time, supporters of the government contend that Liberia’s escalating narcotics problem requires firm action and that political connections should not shield anyone from accountability if credible evidence establishes criminal wrongdoing.
Minister Piah said the government will not succumb to political pressure, emphasizing that “no amount of pressure” will make the administration desist from prosecuting individuals accused of drug trafficking.
The unfolding confrontation between the Boakai administration and opposition forces is therefore likely to remain a major political issue, with the credibility of the drug investigation, respect for due process, and the government’s commitment to the rule of law expected to face continued public scrutiny.
