MONROVIA-Former President George Weah once said he is a business man forced into politics by “those guys” he did not name – a statement which many believe is being manifested in light of the seemingly troubling developments within the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), said to be influenced by those guys as the apparent “devils” within the once thriving masses-based political entity.
While many still seeking clearer understanding to the CDC’s political leader assertion, revelations by Senator Saah H. Joseph, concerning what appears to be terrifying happenings within the former ruling Party have added fuel to the fire.
Liberians and even ordinary partisans wondering and yearning for answers as to the state of affairs, its future and who could be ultimate agent provocateurs and devils trying to render it useless politically and bring into perpetual public disrepute and ridicule.
The party, once regard as Liberia’s most popular political establishment, seems to be wobbling in poor health, losing strength and grip, not in total peace and unity with itself since the agonizing 2023 election loss, which it reportedly spent whooping One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars.
Reports of internal rivalry and wrangling have characterized the CDC since then, with waves of ostentatious defections, resignations, suspensions, coupled with scathing criticisms and exposures of undercover deals during its time in power.
Senator Joseph’s revelations
While the party appears to be struggling with issues surrounding the future of its famous headquarters – in light of the eviction orders from the Civil Law Court – one of its outgone stalwarts, Senator Joseph spilled the beans, revealing how things ugly played out during its six-year reign.
Senator Joseph recently unveiled a new political party – People’s Action Party (PAP)- not only to counter the CDC and other parties, but to apparently test his political maturity and popularity ahead of the 2029 open-field elections.
Already, debates are rift concerning the necessity and timeliness of his decision to form a new party, though Liberian law allows freedom of association.
Senator Joseph, as a member of the CDC, is credited for the party’s outstanding role in making the it formidable and prominent.
Days after tendering his resignation, he revealed how officials of the former ruling party drained the country in their own interest, alleging that former officials destroyed Liberia by undermining a huge investment opportunity that could have provided jobs opportunity to Liberians and further boost the economy.
Speaking to Spoon Talk in response to another CDC stalwart, former Representative Acarious Gray’s outbursts over his (Sen. Joseph) departure for the party, he claimed that a $500 million Bulgarian investment was thwarted due to pressure from unnamed officials that the company paid $30 million in bribe.
According to him, the investment had to with refurbishing the Port of Buchanan and construction an In-land Port in Nimba County.
According to him, the Senate passed on the agreement and sent it to the House for conccurence, but some officials insisted the House should not proceed with concurring unless US$30 million is paid.
“The concession agreement was not passed by the House because the investors refused to pay the bribe,” he said, revealing how the country was robbed of such a glorious opportunity.
Senator Joseph also revealed that a Jewish organization had wanted to help Liberia in the immediate aftermath of COVID-19, but that also was quashed after officials requested for a $10million bribe.
He said: “An investor from Israel told me that when he went to Liberia during former President Weah’s regime, he wanted to invest US$100 million but officials requested that he paid US$10 million before allowing the investment in Liberia.”
Sen. Joseph claimed the revelations are intended to show his connection and efforts made to help the government land investments to enhance employment opportunities and promote the PAPD, the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development, the CDC regime’s development framework.
Far more troubling is the revelation that former President Weah didn’t speak to him for four years during his six-year presidency, making it impossible for him as Chair on Executive at the Liberian Senate to see the President.
He claimed he was denied seeing the President at particular point in time at his Rehab Residence where he had gone to see him, asserting that the treatment infuriated some residents who attempted pressuring security officers to allow him in. “When I saw the tension building up, I pulled by car back and left,” Sen. Joseph, a confirming similar revelation by former Solicitor Cyrenius Cephus that he too never had the leverage to see the President and discuss relevant legal issues with far-reaching implications on the government operations.
Whether the former President was in the know of the denials of his officials from seeing him, or it was someone wheeling powers unknown to the President is another thing begging answers.
In the revelation that has the potential to fuel public anger and disparagement at the already struggling CDC, the Senator accused former President Weah and his associates of engaging in questionable dealings throughout their six-year term in office, alleging the administration sought bribes from foreign investors interested in bringing their business ventures to Liberia.
Weah Senator Joseph described these actions as part of a broader pattern of corruption that beset the government and partly led to its defeat in 2023.
Apart from saying that the government officials bullied investors for bribe, Senator uncapped another damaging information regarding harrowing details about how his party colleague, former Chairman Mulbah Morlu was treated.
He alleged that certain members of the CDC drugged Morlu and recorded him in uncompromising situations, butt naked him and threatened to take his life, though he did say why they wanted to destroy him.
Morlu has since resigned from the CDC and is currently running a social justice advocacy group, Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), which is behind the July 17 Protest against corruption and blatant disregard for the rule of law.
Another mind-blowing revelation made by him had to with what happened to him in the early days of the Boakai administration when he narrowly escaped death after his house gutted fire.
Senator Joseph disclosed that his residence was set ablaze by purported members of the CDC in an apparent attempt to kill him, saying the incident is rooted in claims by partisans and other officials as to why he received more votes in Montserrado than former President Weah got from the same county, adding “the people voted for me based on my records.”
Following the revelation, Senator Joseph immediately resigned from the CDC.
“I am writing to inform you of my decision to resign as a member of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), effective immediately. This decision has not been taken lightly, and I appreciate the opportunities I’ve had to serve our nation through the CDC” he noted.
According to him, the CDC as a grassroots Party founded in 2005, has played a pivotal role in Liberian politics, growth, and development.
“I have come to realize that my vision for Liberia’s future and my personal value is no longer aligned with the party’s direction,” he said in the communication dated August 9, 2025.
Other resignations
Prior to Senator Joseph’s departure, former Chairman Mulbah Morlu called it quit, citing poor relationship with the party’s political leader and standard-bearer, former President Weah. He was said to have been sidelined during the elections, and that his role was taken over by those closed to the President then.
Another Party Stalwart, Representative Thomas Fallah is not longer party of the party many believed made him politically, polishing him as a formidable political player in the body politics of the country.
His departure stemmed from his role in the leadership crisis at the House of Representatives when he aligned with those who ganged up against former Speaker, Fonati Koffa, a stalwart of the CDC, to remove him.
Following weeks to have him returned to status quo by joining ranks with the Speaker Koffa and the group backing, Fallah instead opted for the socalled rebel faction to the dismay of the party. He was subsequently suspended and that was followed by expulsion after he refused to back down.
Who Are CDC’s Devils?
So who were the devils in the CDC as ruling party and are still the same as an opposition party is the question on the lips of Liberians who still see the former party in government as the only alternative to the Unity Party, whose administration is now facing huge criticisms for not going according to the pre-election promises of ‘rescuing’ Liberians.
Senator Joseph did not name any officials that had played direct role in aborting the huge investment opportunities that many believe could have added feathers to the CDC, in terms of winning the hearts of Liberians who got disappointed in its failure to bring investments and create jobs for Liberians.
Reports of corruption plagued the entire six-year span of the CDC government, with allegations also that the head of the government was himself involved in some of the wrong deals.
Besides reported corruption plague, other happenings bedeviled the CDC government such as the mysterious deaths of people who were working with anti-graft entities, with claims that some of the deaths were being sanctioned by party insiders apparently destroy evidence of malpractices.
“The devils in the CDC were not different people, but the very people who given opportunities by the President to help him run the government,” stated Ben Desmond Brown, who also added that “the president himself was not far from being a devil because he was largely lackadaisical in taking actions.”
“Those people were the devils because they focused on enriching themselves as early as possible, and even tried to cover up and go against or after others who did not agree with their conducts,” Mr. Brown, who claimed he is CDC sympathizer said.
“If he is in the know of some of what Senator Joseph said, then it is worrying,” he added, and emphasized that he and the CDC need to come up to address these claims in the soonest of time.
Adding his voice also, Francis Penah said it was unfortunate that Senator Joseph said these “harrowing things about the CDC that helped him along the way, the government he worked in.” There is no need to find another devil, he also was one of the devils in the party,” Penah stressed, accusing the Montserrado Senator of bad deceptive tendencies.
“He is not the only person leaving the party,” he wondered, “those before him did not go to the length he went.” He added that those who left the party and are spilling the bean are the very devils that got it in its current dilemma.
Recall that while resigning from the CDC, Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah said he would respond to the “creatures” at the most appropriate time, because “I know the creatures in the water, I was there.”
Though Fallah did not refer to his former colleagues and partisans as devils, but it is believed his use of ‘creatures’ to refer to them is the same as saying ‘devils.’
But whether Senator Joseph resignation from the CDC and his scathing attack are induced or not is another issue of concern to Liberians.
Senator Joseph has not been vocally active since the inauguration of President Boakai, who he once referred to as “my uncle” being a kissi himself as the President.
Alphonso Toweh
Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in International Relations and a candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Liberia.
