Ex-First Lady, Weah Era Officials Arrested for Alleged Diversion of Donated Rice Intended for Disaster Relief (Website Headline)
Former First Lady Thelma Sawyer, along with several prominent officials from President George Weah’s administration were Thursday arrested and detained at the Monrovia Central Prison on serious corruption charges related to the alleged misappropriation of foreign-aid supplies.
The group includes former Foreign Affairs Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, former General Services Agency (GSA) Director-General Mary T. Broh, former Deputy Foreign Minister Thelma Sawyer, and Henry O. Williams, the former Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
They were arrested alongside three senior NDMA officials: Acheivego Doe (Communications Director), Rosette Gbeisaye (Director of Logistics), and Augustine Konneh (Director for Response). One additional suspect, Edward Konneh, a Response Officer at NDMA, remains at large, prompting an ongoing manhunt by authorities.
The arrests stem from an extensive investigation conducted by the Special Presidential Taskforce on Assets Recovery, centering around the alleged misappropriation of 29,412 bags of rice donated to Liberia in April 2023 by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
Originally intended for distribution to communities affected by disasters—including fires and floods—investigators claim a significant portion of the rice was diverted “for personal and political benefits.”
The rice, valued at approximately US$425,918, was consigned to the NDMA for public distribution, raising serious questions regarding the management of donated resources. A forensic audit by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) uncovered evidence of gross mismanagement, indicating that large quantities of the rice had been stored in private facilities linked to political campaign operatives ahead of the 2023 elections.
The accused are facing multiple charges, including:
– Theft of Property
– Economic Sabotage
– Misuse of Public Office
– Criminal Conspiracy
The case is particularly sensitive given the backdrop of humanitarian concerns and the trust placed in public officials to aid disaster-stricken communities. The investigation has highlighted not only the alleged corruption among high-ranking officials but also the broader context of accountability in Liberia’s governance system.
