By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
MONROVIA – Former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah has ignited sharp political backlash after asserting that former President George Weah, not the current administration, laid the decisive foundation for Liberian’s reaffirmation for a second Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact.
In a strongly worded public statement on Thursday Tweah described the MCC milestone as “a victory of the gains that can ensure when our leaders work together” – but quickly shifted credit to Weah, saying the achievement “memorializes legacy in governance.”
According to Tweah, the Weah administration “cemented the gains of governance” and advanced the governance standards inherited from the former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who secured the country’s first MCC Compact.
He argued that Liberia would never have passed the MCC scorecard without the governance reforms enacted under Weah’s leadership.
The remarks, however, have triggered controversy across political circles.
Critics of the former Minister say his comments downplay the diplomatic efforts of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, whose administration actually secured the eligibility and made the case before the MCC Board.
Some accuse Tweah of attempting to “rewrite history” and “politically sanitize” the Weah-era record, which had faced heavy scrutiny for corruption, fiscal mismanagement and poor governance.
Tweah, meanwhile, acknowledged President Boakai’s role but framed it as an extension of Weah’s achievements, praising the current President for “leveraging and navigating his predecessor’s foundation with dexterity, skill, and diplomatic finesse.”
Analysts note that Tweah’s attempt to distribute credit between the Boakai and Weah administration is anything but neutral. Instead, it has opened a fresh chapter in the long-standing political rivalry between the Congress for Democratic Change and the Unity Party.
While some supporters of the former minister applaud him for what they call “an objective recounting of Liberia’s governance progress,” others see the statement as a calculated political move aimed at rehabilitating the Weah administration’s legacy.
The debate comes at a crucial moment as Liberia prepares for negotiations on the scope, priorities, and financial commitments of the incoming MCC Compact – a process expected to significantly reshape the country’s development agenda. With Tweah’s comments now fueling heated discussions on social media, talk shows, and political forums, the MCC victory has quickly become more than a national milestone – it is now a battleground for historical credit and political relevance.
