By Pewu Y. Sumo
MONROVIA — A prominent stalwart of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), former Representative of Montserrado County District 8 Acarous Moses Gray, has hit back at Information Minister Jerolinmek M. Piah following remarks made by the government’s spokesperson during the Ministry of Information (MOI) press briefing on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Minister Piah, during the press briefing, heavily criticized the former ruling CDC, accusing it of failing to properly handle a US$100 million drug case due to what he termed “experimental and trial-and-error leadership.”
However, the statement from Minister Piah has met stiff resistance from the former Montserrado County lawmaker, who accused the Unity Party (UP) administration of administrative ineptitude, gross incompetence, and failing to back up its anti-drug rhetoric with legal action.
In a strongly worded public rebuttal via his Facebook handle, Gray—the former House Chairman on Executive and a co-sponsor of the legislation that made drug offenses non-bailable—labeled Minister Piah as Liberia’s “Baghdad Bob.” He argued that after nearly three years in power, the Boakai-led administration has failed to arrest or prosecute a single official from the George Weah administration, despite repeatedly accusing the past government of making Liberia an “open haven for drugs.”
“A Failure to Execute the Law”
Gray contended that if the current administration genuinely possesses evidence of drug trafficking against past officials, its failure to interrogate, arrest, or charge anyone amounts to a violation of the President’s constitutional oath to execute the laws of the land.
“Standing before the public to accuse the past administration when not a single member has been interrogated, arrested, or charged for drug trafficking shows the Minister should be ashamed of himself,” Gray stated. “The government was elected to govern responsibly and not to live on propaganda, lies, and gossip like they did in opposition.”
The CDC strongman went on to accuse the regime of shifting blame to cover up its own failures to adequately fund the rehabilitation and reintegration of drug victims, or to submit promised amendments to the drug law to the National Legislature.
Allegations of Complicity and Inaction
In a provocative twist, Gray alleged that the administration is being influenced by “criminals parading under the canopy of diplomatic status and members of the first family” to traffic dangerous substances, including cocaine and the lethal street drug locally known as “Zombie” or “Spark and Die.”
He maintained that despite President Boakai declaring drug abuse a national health emergency early in his tenure, media evidence shows that more young Liberians are dying and being destroyed by narcotics under the current administration than ever before—claims The Informer Newspaper could not independently verify.
Economic Hardship and Camera Posturing
Shifting focus to the broader socio-economic climate, Gray claimed that Liberians are growing weary of political monologues amidst rising inflation and heavy tax burdens.
“The Liberian people are tired of street rhetoric and false promises. The people are suffering from high taxation and a hike in prices,” Gray added.
Concluding his broadside, the former lawmaker challenged Minister Piah and the UP government to stop posturing for the media and actually do the work of the Liberian people.
“If you believe and have the evidence that individuals under the past administration are linked to drugs, go and have them arrested,” Gray challenged. “Stop posing and posturing in front of the cameras like a gentleman and do the work.”
Gray’s statement adds to the ongoing debate surrounding the US$19.2 million drug bust at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) on June 8, 2026, with the public pressuring the government to release the names of those associated with the ongoing investigation.
Though the government argued that the investigation involves a transnational crime, it warned that releasing the names of those already facing questioning could undermine the investigation.
As of the time of this report, the Information Ministry has yet to issue an official response to Hon. Gray’s latest assertions.
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