By Amos Harris
IPNEWS: Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah is facing growing public criticism following his year-end press briefing
After devoting a significant portion of the Ministry of Information, (MOI) platform to attacking former President George M. Weah including his
And officials of the previous Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration, rather than outlining concrete achievements of the incumbent Unity Party (UP)-led government.
The regular press briefing, held on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at the Ministry of Information
Reportedly saw Minister Piah spend nearly 45 minutes focusing largely on alleged misconduct under the Weah administration.
Among the most contentious claims, the Minister alleged that former President Weah constructed as many as 49 residential buildings using taxpayers’ money for personal benefit and misused state resources.
Minister Piah also revisited the controversial issue of billions of Liberian dollars said to have gone missing during the CDC era.
He further cited past statements by former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel D. Tweah
Who had claimed that substantial sums were injected into the foreign exchange market to stabilize the Liberian dollar.
Tweah is currently standing trial on corruption-related charges.
However, critics argue that the Minister’s emphasis was misplaced and increasingly unproductive, particularly as the Unity Party administration approaches two years in office.
Political observers and civil society actors say Liberians are growing impatient for detailed and transparent accounts of what the current government has achieved in terms of governance reforms
Economic recovery and tangible improvements in living standards.
Many note that the CDC government was voted out precisely because citizens demanded change
And that a continued fixation on past administrations does little to address the pressing “bread-and-butter” issues confronting ordinary Liberians.
These include the rising cost of living, high unemployment, deteriorating road infrastructure, and limited access to basic public services.
“The Ministry of Information should not be used primarily as a platform to attack former officials,” a civil society actor told this paper.
“Liberians want to hear what the so-called Rescue Mission has delivered so far, not a repetition of narratives about past failures.”
Critics further contend that several urgent national concerns deserved attention during the briefing but were either glossed over or ignored.
Among them are persistent questions surrounding the reported US$40 million expenditure by the Ministry of Public Works on southeastern road corridors
Where road users continue to endure severe transportation challenges.
The matter has generated sufficient public outcry that the Public Works Minister was recently summoned by the Legislature to account for the poor condition of roads in the region.
Internal challenges within MICAT itself have also drawn scrutiny.
Earlier on Tuesday, Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs Daniel Sando appeared on a local radio station and disclosed that the Ministry is grappling with serious financial constraints.
When journalists later questioned him about the continued absence of the New Liberia Newspaper from newsstands
Minister Sando reportedly shifted responsibility to Assistant Minister Rufus Paul, who oversees the publication.
Additional concerns were raised about the prolonged shutdown of the Liberia News Agency (LINA) website, which has reportedly been offline for more than a month.
The situation has further limited public access to official government information and raised questions about transparency
And communication under the current administration.
Political commentators maintain that while accountability for past administrations remains important
The core mandate of the Ministry of Information is to keep the public informed about the performance, challenges and achievements of the sitting government under President Joseph N. Boakai.
As the Unity Party continues to promote its “Rescue Mission” agenda, many Liberians insist that official briefings should prioritize clear solutions, policy reforms
And measurable progress that directly affect their daily lives, rather than extended focus on former leaders who are no longer in office
