In a dramatic escalation of the government’s anti-corruption drive, several high-ranking former officials have been arrested and detained in connection with the alleged diversion of a massive humanitarian rice donation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The scandal centers on 29,412 bags of rice, valued at over US$425,000, which were intended for vulnerable Liberians affected by natural disasters.

The arrests, which took place this week, include former Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, former General Services Agency (GSA) Director General Mary T. Broh, and former National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Executive Director Henry O. Williams. Three other senior NDMA officials have also been jailed. A fourth suspect, an NDMA Response Officer, remains at large.

According to a months-long investigation by Liberia’s Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), a significant portion of the rice—over 25,000 bags—was allegedly “diverted, re-bagged, and secretly redistributed” for what investigators describe as “personal and political benefits.” The indictment charges the accused with multiple offenses, including theft of property, economic sabotage, and misuse of public office.

The rice, donated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in April 2023, was officially consigned to the NDMA for distribution. However, concerns grew after a large portion of the consignment went unaccounted for. A forensic audit by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) reportedly played a crucial role in building the case, uncovering a network of alleged mismanagement and diversion.

The arrest of former Foreign Minister Kemayah was particularly dramatic, with an arrest warrant executed at his residence. Mary T. Broh’s arrest also made headlines as police reportedly entered the private residence of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf without prior notice to apprehend her.

While some of the indicted officials, including Kemayah and Broh, have been released from Monrovia Central Prison by a Criminal Court, three NDMA officials remain in custody. Kemayah has publicly denounced his arrest as a “witch-hunt” and a political persecution, claiming a lack of compelling evidence.

This high-profile case marks the first major corruption prosecution to reach open court since the AREPT regained its mandate. It is widely seen as a key test of President Joseph Boakai’s “no sacred cows” pledge in his fight against corruption. Civil society groups have welcomed the arrests, urging a swift and transparent legal process to restore public trust in the management of humanitarian aid.

The case is expected to continue with a bail hearing scheduled for June 30, and prosecutors have indicated that more indictments are expected as their probe into at least 17 high-profile corruption cases widens.

By: David S. Johnson | editor@thepointafricanews.com