“Diabolically Delusional’: Former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah Denies $21 Million Rice Subsidy Transfer to Commerce Ministry, Challenges Government to Prove Claims and Warns Media Against Unverified Reports Amid Acquittal Fallout
BY: Rufus Divine Brooks Jr.
MONROVIA — Former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah has denied allegations that he transferred $21 million in rice subsidy funds to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), dismissing the claims as “diabolically delusional” and part of an effort to distract from his recent acquittal in the $6.2 million economic sabotage case.
In a statement addressed to media executive Stanton Witherspoon on Monday, Tweah said he had been informed that government officials may invite him for questioning over the alleged subsidy.
“Let me clear the record again before they even type the first word of any such letter,” he wrote.
Tweah stated: “1. At no time as minister of finance did I transfer US$21 million to MOCI for rice subsidy.
No such records exist at MFDP, so your sources are diabolically delusional.”
He added that all rice subsidy transfers to MOCI in 2021 and 2022 “were duly approved by the President of the Republic, the National Legislature and the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” and said he “welcomes any bogus investigation” into the matter.
The former minister further clarified the scope of his former office, saying: “The Minister of Finance and Development Planning has responsibility to manage public finances but bears no direct responsibility for lawful transfers made to spending entities under his legal authority as the Minister.”
Tweah also cautioned Witherspoon against publishing unverified claims.
“So we understand the tactic,” Tweah continued. “But I await any bogus investigation into lawful responsibilities I exercised as Minister of Finance.”