Africa-Press – Liberia. By Lincoln G. Peters
Temple of Justice, Monrovia, April 27, 2026: Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. has remained tight-lipped about the National Security Emergency that occurred in 2023. Tweah authorized US$6.4 million to the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) for that emergency, but has declined to disclose details about the expenditures.
During cross-examination on Friday, April 24, 2026, Tweah was asked: “Mr. Witness, you made reference to a National Security Emergency. I take it that between September 5, 2023, and October 17, 2023, there was no Security Emergency for which you authorized the payment of over 1 billion LRD and US$500,000 in the Republic of Liberia. Isn’t that the fact?”
In response, Tweah explained that the money he authorized to the FIA, a member of the Joint Security, was intended for the conduct of the 2023 elections and other national security purposes and intelligence matters, the details of which he said he could not disclose.
Further justifying the expenditure, Tweah argued that the 2023 election year posed significant risks and that any government during such a period is obligated to safeguard life and property and to ensure a free and fair election.
“The amount in question, US$6.2 million, was included in the National Security Budget submitted to and approved by the National Security Council (NSC). That budget covers classified intelligence and security risks. The US$6.2 million is actually US$12 million less than the amounts spent this year, when we are not even holding elections,” Tweah stated.
Meanwhile, offering a security analysis, Tweah claimed that between January 2024—the date President Joseph N. Boakai was inaugurated, and April 24, 2026, the Unity Party (UP) government has spent more than US$45 million on covert, classified national security and intelligence activities.
“That amount of spending is for national security and will never be exposed to the Liberian people unless through a specialized audit. I don’t believe the people of Liberia or the members of the jury can recall any declaration of a national emergency during that period, except for the Guinea border crisis,” he asserted.
Tweah further argued that, aside from the Guinea–Liberian border conflict, there has been no declared emergency under the UP government. He noted that the government spent US$3 million on the Guinea–Liberian border crisis.
“If you subtract the US$3 million from the US$45 million, you’re left with US$42 million spent on national security and intelligence purposes. That means in 2024 alone, the government spent around US$21 million on national security without any declared emergency, and the same pattern followed in subsequent years,” Tweah noted.
Following Tweah’s testimony, the Prosecution gave notice to the court to produce a rebuttal witness request the court granted and recorded.
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