MOVEE Condemns the Arbitrary Arrest of Amb. Kemayah--Calls for Free, Fair, Transparent and Speedy Trial

Monday, June 30, 2025

The Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE ) strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest and illegal detention of the party’s Political Leader and Standard Bearer, H.E. Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. At 3:00AM on Thursday, June 26, 2025, officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) besieged the residence of Ambassador Kemayah in a scaring and panicking manner just to effect an arrest. MOVEE sees this brazen act of political witch-hunt, being executed through frivolous charges and baseless allegations as a glaring attack on our democracy. The charges levied against Ambassador Kemayah, relating to the alleged management and distribution of 29,412 bags of rice donated by the Saudi Arabian Government to Liberia, are not only false and misleading, but also exposes the UP Government’s attempts to clamp down on opposition leaders in the country. The Movement for Economic Empowerment is aware that the UP Government has embarked on an agenda of using unproven allegations of corruption against opposition figures. Genuine fight against corruption is not a charade, and not for the government to use those who disagree with it as smokescreens. The party resists President Boakai’s attempts to lead Liberia with tyranny and dictatorship. The use of state machineries to intimate and deter opposition dissent is undemocratic and chaos inviting.

The Movement for Economic Empowerment also sees the government’s action against Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Kemayah, Sr. as a sinister move intended to derail his contributions towards the empowerment of Liberian girls and women. Just days following the graduation of 41 women and girls from the Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah Women Empowerment and Vocational Skills Training Program, a free six-month initiative, aimed at empowering women and girls with livelihood skills, the reckless and vindictive leadership of the Unity Party Government has opted to undermine these positive strides with false allegations and charges against the party’s Political Leader and Standard Bearer. MOVEE wonders as to what moral does Cllr. Edwin Klah Martin has to lead an anti-corruption fight when the very Asset Recovery Team he heads is embroiled with allegations of corruption. Members of the Assets Recovery Team who resigned accused Cllr. Martin of corruption. Budgetary allocations made to the Assets Recovery Team in the 2024 National Budget was squandered by Cllr. Martin to the point that staffers have not been paid.   

Meanwhile, in the wake of the government’s false charges against Ambassador Kemayah, the Movement for Economic Empowerment welcomes the release of Ambassador Kemayah and calls for a free, fair, transparent and speedy trial. The party appreciates the Former President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah, the Executives and Members of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), the team of lawyers, the Executives and Partisans of MOVEE, well-wishers, friends and relatives of Ambassador Kemayah, and all those who stood in solidarity with our Political Leader and Standard Bearer until his release. We thank Rev. Mrs. Dialokai Golanyon-Kemayah, the wife of our Political Leader and Standard Bearer and the First Lady of MOVEE for standing with her husband and for her continuous unflinching support, as demonstrated today. Our gratitude also goes to the Clergy and prominent personalities who provided human sureties for the release of Ambassador Kemayah. The Movement for Economic Empowerment does not just see Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. as the party’s Political Leader and Standard Bearer, but a personality of honesty and integrity. We will not allow this evil and corrupt UP regime to use him to justify its fake fight against corruption. While we respect and support the rule of law, we will protect our own against frivolous charges intended for political scores.