MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberia’s ongoing investigation into the alleged misapplication of millions of dollars intended for rice price stabilization has taken another turn, with the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT) publicly addressing circumstances surrounding former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah’s departure from its headquarters.
The Task Force has now provided its first detailed explanation of the incident following public discussions and reports surrounding Tweah’s appearance and subsequent exit from the institution’s offices in Paynesville.
In a statement released Thursday, AREPT confirmed that the former minister appeared at its headquarters on May 21, 2026, after receiving an official invitation related to an ongoing investigation involving approximately US$20.5 million in rice subsidy funds.
According to the institution, the investigation centers on the implementation and management of subsidy payments made between September 2021 and October 2022, intended to reduce the price of rice on the Liberian market through actions involving the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
Authorities indicated that the investigation includes allegations involving theft of property, economic sabotage, criminal conspiracy, criminal facilitation, and the alleged misapplication of public funds.
The statement further disclosed that Tweah’s appearance before the Task Force came after his legal representatives requested a postponement of an earlier scheduled appearance — a request AREPT said it approved in the interest of due process and institutional cooperation.
However, according to the Task Force, events changed shortly after the former minister arrived at the headquarters.
AREPT stated that legal counsel representing Tweah later informed the institution’s Chairman of their decision to leave the premises due to concerns they described as “procedural arrangements” related to activities at the compound.
The explanation follows widespread reports suggesting that Tweah and his lawyer, Cllr. Arthur Johnson, walked out after allegedly being left waiting for an extended period without clear direction from officials.
Reports further indicated that members of the former minister’s legal team believed he should have been accorded treatment reflecting his status as a former senior government official.
Responding to those concerns, AREPT emphasized that all individuals appearing before the institution are subjected to the same administrative procedures regardless of their position, title, or previous government role.
According to the Task Force, these protocols are intended to maintain fairness, professionalism, order, and due process throughout investigative proceedings.
AREPT also sought to characterize its invitation process as a standard legal procedure rather than an adversarial process, stressing that invitations are designed to give individuals an opportunity to respond to allegations and provide relevant information during investigations.
The institution further announced that another invitation will be issued to Samuel Tweah as part of efforts to continue the investigative process.
Officials reaffirmed their commitment to conducting all proceedings professionally and in accordance with Executive Order #161 and the laws governing Liberia.
As public attention continues to focus on the matter, the investigation remains one of the latest high-profile cases involving scrutiny of public financial management and accountability in Liberia.
