The attention of the Ministry of Information has been drawn to a backpage story in the Tuesday, September 27 edition of the New Dawn newspaper in which the Chairman of the opposition Unity Party is quoted describing the speech made by President George M. Weah at the 77th UN General Assembly as “broad day deception”.
It can be recalled over the weekend opposition Unity Party (UP) National Chairman Rev. Luther Tarpeh, termed as broad day dry face deception to the highest degree President George Manneh Weah’s recent address to the United Nations (UN) 77th General Assembly that the country economy is healthy and strong.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen on Saturday, September 24, 2022, when his party with Standard Bearer Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai visited Ganta City, Nimba County, to participate in series of activities, including the induction ceremony of the Nimba Movement for the Election of Boakai (NIMEBO), Chairman Tarpeh disagreed and said that it was very shameful and saddening for President Weah to be speaking a dry- face deception at such international gathering.
“Listen to me, President Weah address to the United Nations was a big lies and deception that was done with dry face in the broad day. Where in Liberia is the economy working, healthy and strong when our there is no jobs for Liberians to work and even pay their children school fees. Where is the companies that this government had brought to provide jobs opportunities for Liberians before he spoke in said manner”, Tarpeh wondered?
Mr. Tarpeh asserted that the Coalition for Democracy Change (CDC) government is only working and improving in theory, but practically there is no positive affect on the lives of the Liberian people, saying President Weah address is on the contrary because poverty is still on the increase.
But, according to a MICAT release signed by Information Minister Ledgerhood J. Rennie and issued on September 27,2022, the Minister said the UP Chairman made the statement without offering any reasonable explanation or providing a logical counter argument, the prelate-turned politician simply said the President was telling “lies”.
“This runs contrary to all available data, which have been nationally and internationally validated, suggesting real improvements in areas highlighted by the Liberian leader, such as the economy, women empowerment, democracy and international peacekeeping.
“To unfairly and illogically describe these statements, that can be easily verified, as “lies” shows that the man chosen to lead a major political party is not only clueless about happenings in the country, but is also a political rockier”, the release further stated.
It added that Tarpeh’s latest faux pas is coming about a month after he told a boldface lie that his home was set ablaze by arsonists. A police and National Fire Service investigation showed that not only was his allegation untrue, but that he was fully aware of the actual cause of the fire.
As we go to elections next year, politicians ought to engage in conversations around the real issues that concern Liberians rather than presenting the public with fake news and misinformation that could potentially lead to violence, Minister Rennie cautioned.
