The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) says it is aware of the recent legal actions involving former and current government officials over allegations of corruption and other offenses, calling for a neutral and transparent proceeding.
It can be recalled that on Thursday, June 26, 2025, former Foreign Affairs Minister D. Maxwell Saah Kemayah and several other former government officials were arrested by the Liberia National Police and taken to Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia. They face allegations of mismanagement regarding 29,000 bags of donated relief rice, valued at over $425,000, intended for disaster-affected communities.
The defendants include Mary Broh, Varney A. Sirleaf, Thelma Sawyer, Augustine Tamba, Augustine Kollie, and Henry O. Williams. They have been indicted on charges of Theft of Property, Economic Sabotage, Misapplication of Entrusted Property, and Criminal Conspiracy, among others. They were remanded to Monrovia Central Prison following a complaint filed by the Republic of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice.
The investigation by the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force revealed that the defendants’ actions resulted in a loss of 25,054 bags of rice. The rice was donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in April 2023, but was improperly managed by Kemayah and Sawyer, who made unauthorized decisions concerning its distribution. After their arrest, the former officials secured bail through their legal counsel.
However, in an article issued over the weekend, the LCC said as a body rooted in faith, justice, and peace, it was incumbent upon it to speak on the matter with clarity, care, and conviction. The religious group said while it supports the government’s duty to fight corruption, it’s at the same time calling for this fight to honor the laws of Liberia and the rights of every citizen, adding that Justice must never come at the cost of fairness, considering that “Every person is innocent until proven guilty and must be treated with dignity and respect.”
We appeal to our courts, our lawyers, and our security services to remain neutral, careful, and transparent. Let no one use the law for politics or personal gain. Let every step be guided by truth and guided by what is just and right.
“We ask the public to follow the court process with patience and understanding. Let us avoid harmful talk, insults, and anger. Let us speak with wisdom and watch with open hearts. In doing so, we protect our peace and deepen our democracy,” said Christopher Wleh Toe, I, Liberia Council of Churches General Secretary.
Meanwhile, the LCC has called on the Church and all religious bodies not to remain silent. “This is the time to speak truth with love, to be the conscience of the nation, and to stand with the voiceless. Let us lead by example and speak with moral courage,” the Council emphasized. The LCC called on citizens to hold on to their values, and walk together in unity, while seeking healing instead of hatred, pursuing justice, and never losing their mercy. “We pray that God will bless our leaders with wisdom, bless our people with peace, and bless our nation with healing,” the LCC statement said.
