Alternative National Congress (ANC) Political Leader Alexander B. Cummings has expressed concerns about the recent arrests under Liberia's new Cybercrime Act. He questions whether the arrests align with the law's provisions, stating that the ANC is examining the details to determine if the law was properly applied. Cummings emphasizes the need to address cybercrime, but in an appropriate manner. The Cybercrime Act of 2025 was passed by the Senate in November 2025 and signed into law by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. on August 19, 2026.
The first major public test of the Cybercrime Act involves Jerry Nyantee Wrato, who was arrested over AI-generated images and videos depicting Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung. The Liberia National Police (LNP) plans to forward Wrato to court on four cybercrime counts. Cummings' comments cast the ANC as a critic of the government and a wary partner to the wider opposition. The ANC Political Leader stresses the importance of addressing cybercrime, but also ensuring that the law is applied correctly.
Cummings welcomed the Liberia Revenue Authority's (LRA) recent announcement of a billion-dollar revenue milestone, describing it as a positive development. However, he urges the government to pay close attention to how the additional money is allocated and spent. Cummings recalls that during the 2017 presidential debate, he argued that Liberia's national budget should already have exceeded US$1 billion. He believes that Liberia's revenue and budget should now be considerably higher.
Cummings compared Liberia's revenue performance with that of neighboring countries, arguing that the country still has significant room to expand its fiscal capacity. He warns that higher revenue will not necessarily improve living conditions for ordinary Liberians if public resources continue to be allocated as in the past. President Boakai marked the US$1 billion domestic revenue milestone in a special address on September 15.
Cummings also commented on the resignation of Fubbi Henry from the ANC, confirming that Henry had been a member of the party. He stated that Henry's resignation does not change his standing as a Liberian citizen or a resident of Montserrado County Electoral District #9. Cummings did not address the reasons for Henry's departure.
On opposition unity, Cummings said the ANC remains open to discussions with other opposition parties, stressing that opposition unity is important. However, he emphasized that the ANC intends to learn from what he described as mistakes made under the former Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) arrangement. The ANC will not repeat those mistakes, and any future collaboration must serve the ANC's interests.
Cummings' comments come as parties and political actors continue discussions ahead of Liberia's next electoral cycle. Opposition coordination, governance, public revenue, and the application of new legislation remain subjects of national debate. The ANC Political Leader's remarks highlight the need for careful consideration of these issues to ensure that the interests of Liberians are represented.
Key points
- Cummings questions the recent arrests under Liberia's new Cybercrime Act.
- He welcomes the billion-dollar revenue milestone but urges careful allocation and spending of public resources.
- The ANC remains open to discussions on opposition unity, but with a cautious approach.
