Weah fleshes out cabinet under fire for justice minister

Liberia's president, George Weah.

Liberian President George Weah filled the vast majority of remaining cabinet seats on Saturday while controversy grew over allegations of past criminal behaviour by his justice minister.

Weah gave posts to a mixture of inexperienced but loyal figures from his Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party, along with some key members held over from the former government, according to names released in an official statement.

Newly appointed interior minister Varney Sirleaf is a stepson of former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and previously served as deputy minister, while her information minister Eugene Nagbe keeps his role in the new administration.


Minister of Education Ansu Sonii, and Minister of Commerce and Industry Wilson Tarpeh were key spokesperson for Weah during last year's election campaign, when the former footballer beat Sirleaf's vice-president Joseph Boakai on a wave of youth support.

Just one woman, Williametta Piso Saydee-Tarr, has been appointed as a minister so far, taking the Gender, Children and Social Protection portfolio and breaking with strides in gender equality under Sirleaf.