Amb Onanuga Presidential Special Envoy on Tourism Fires Back at Senator Snowe for Deceptive Insinuations

Monrovia, Liberia: The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CT COM Liberia Limited and Liberia’s Ambassador-at-Large on Tourism Christopher Hayes Onanuga, has counter reacted sternly to insinuation made by Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snow which seem to link him to the flamboyancy.

Speaking via telephone on the Kool Morning Ride, a radio talk-show program aired on Kool 91.9 FM, in response what he termed as Snow’s wrong characterization of his hard-earned reputation, Onanuga argue that he commend more respect on the African continent than Snow.

According to Onanuga, Senator Snow has no moral grounds to question his integrity, while maintaining that it is far more respected in West Africa in vast contrast to the Bomi Senator.

Onanuga went on to clarify that Snow’s recognition in the region is primarily due to his political position as a senator.

He pleaded with the public to consider Snow’s lack of character, referencing his humble beginnings as a domestic staffer to the former National Chairman of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) Cyril Allen. Onanuga linked Senator Snow’s rise to political affluence and power to alleged acts of criminal activities, unlike him who bagged a record being a successful businessman.

Ambassador Onanuga also claimed that Snow has never worked for his own wealth, instead accusing him of amassing wealth through alleged theft from the state's coffers.

Furthermore, Onanuga took aim at Snow’s personal life, highlighting that he has been married more than three times, which Onanuga argued places a serious doubt on his credibility as a character.

Snowe was implicated in the misappropriation of funds during his tenure as Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Corporation under the transitional government. Investigations were conducted, but specific outcomes or convictions are not detailed in the available sources.

Yes, there have been allegations involving Snowe concerning inappropriate conduct towards women.

In December 2011, reports emerged that Snowe offered US$1,000 to a Liberian woman, enticing her to strip naked and swim across his swimming pool during a bachelor’s party at his residence. 

The incident widely referred to as “Snow Gate” sparked significant public outrage. Women’s groups organized protests demanding Snow’s resignation, condemning his actions as immoral and unbecoming of a public official. One protester stated that Snowe should “step aside and repent of his sins as David did in the Bible.” 

Snowe addressed the allegations by acknowledging that he offered US$1,000 to a female attendee at the party but denied reports that she paraded naked at his residence. He stated that the lady, identified only as Tracy, wore a brown swimming suit during the event. 

Despite Snowe’s explanation, the incident raised concerns about his judgment and conduct as a public servant, contributing to a complex and controversial chapter in his political career.

Onanuga’s reaction stems from Senator Snow’s assertion during Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, accompanied by her deputies, at a high-profile hearing at the Liberian House of Senate to discuss the recent U.S. government-imposed travel ban on Liberians.

The hearing was convened with the aim of addressing the impact of the travel restrictions and exploring potential solutions.

However, the session took an unexpected turn as Senator Edwin Snow, who chaired the hearing, shifted the focus of the hearing to Ambassadors Onanuga and Mohamed Bah.

During the hearing, Senator Snow questioned the comportment of Onanuga and Bah, on a flight headed to Burkina Faso as member of the Foreign Minister’s delegation to Burkina Faso.

The Bomi Senator insinuated that the flamboyant manners in which two presidential emissaries were seen displaying their respective diplomatic passports beside a champagne glass might have contributed to the many reasons behind the U.S. proposed visa ban on Liberia.

In his line of questioning, Senator Snow stated that these two envoys could be partially responsible for the imposition of the travel ban.

“These two individuals are some of the reasons why the ban is coming on Liberia,” while pressuring Foreign Minister Nyanti to explain the nature of her mission to Burkina Faso, where Onanuga and Bah were reported to have accompanied her.

But responding to Snow’s inquiry, Foreign Minister Nyanti clarified that her delegation to Burkina Faso consisted only of her accompanied by her team due to resource constraints, but “Because they were already in the area, I allowed the two envoys to join me, but it was solely my delegation,” she stated.

However, Senator Snow maintained his exact line of questioning, suggesting that apparently the flamboyant display of Liberia’s diplomatic passports by Onanuga and Bah on the trip might have fuelled the U.S. government’s decision to impose a visa restriction on Liberia.

Senator Snow: “So those two envoys you had on the trip are the issue we have with our passports. You should get rid of them.”

The Senator further alleged that the two envoys had been seen flaunting the Liberian diplomatic passport while on an aircraft, accompanied by champagne or wine, which he suggested was inappropriate and damaging to Liberia’s diplomatic image.

“No minister or diplomat will sit in an aircraft with the Liberian diplomatic passport and take pictures to show the world they have a diplomatic passport. You were not serious enough in taking these individuals on your trip to lobby for the UN Seat,” he argued.

Again, Minister Nyanti was quick strongly denied the allegations, stating that she did not bring anyone to Burkina Faso to lobby for the United Nations Security Council Seat (UNSCS), saying, “The only reason they were seen together was because both were meeting with companies in Burkina Faso."

Pressing further, Senator Snow specifically asked whether Onanuga and Bah had met with the President of Burkina Faso during her visit; in response, Minister Nyanti firmly insisted, “I was the only one who met with the President of Burkina Faso. They met with other officials, but not the president.”

The unexpected shift in a hearing that was meant solely to provide clarity on speculations that Liberia made it the list of countries proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump for visa restriction has led to heightened scrutiny of how these government figures might have influenced diplomatic challenges related to the travel ban.

The hearing, originally intended to provide clarity on Liberia’s response to the U.S. sanctions, ended with more questions than answers.

With key issues surrounding the travel ban and the role of certain government figures still unresolved, many in the Senate and across Liberia were left wondering about the next steps in resolving the situation.

For further details, listen to the full interview below from his appearance on Kool 91.9 FM.

[Link to Full Audio]