Liberia’s journey towards substantial governmental reform is embodied in the imminent establishment of the Economic Crime Court (ECC).
By: Austin S Fallah- A Nationalist and True Son of the Soil.
Currently, there is a consensus that this court’s jurisdiction should span from 1979 to 2003.
However, I contend that such a range fails to accommodate the evolving contours of economic crime in Liberia.
My argument proposes that the mandate of the Economic Crime Court be extended to encompass incidents from 1979 through 2023, including future crimes that may be discovered.
This expanded timeframe would include all audits conducted by the Version of the Most Prudent Hon. John Molu’s General Auditing Commission, thus providing a comprehensive overview of the modern auditing history of Liberia.
While the specificity of the Economic Crime Court’s temporal jurisdiction for the years 1979 to 2003 seems practical, it can be constrained and restrictive.
Notably, economic crimes did not cease suddenly in 2003.
Post-2003, Liberia has been grappling with financial irregularities, fraud, and economic crimes that continue to hamper progress.
Accordingly, the Economic Crime Court should deal with economic anomalies occurring beyond 2003.
By extending the period to 2023, inclusivity and comprehensivity become defining characteristics of the Economic Crime Court.
Moreover, it is imperative to consider the important role played by audit reports in Liberia’s financial sector, especially those conducted by the Version of the Most Prudent Hon. John Molu’s General Auditing Commission.
These audit reports have investigated and uncovered several instances of economic crime.
Therefore, it is integral that the ECC’s jurisdiction be expanded to consider these reports in their entirety.
Further, the ECC should be mindful of rejuvenating public faith in Liberia’s economic structures.
To attain this goal, it is crucial to consider economic crimes not only in the past but also those that are contemporary.
The ECC should be a living institution that moves with the times and addresses economic crimes in the context in which they occur.
Therefore, extending its jurisdiction until 2023 will ensure that the court remains culturally relevant and capable of driving meaningful change.
In addition, expanding the temporal jurisdiction to 2023 is in keeping with global trends.
The expansion aligns with the provisions of transitional justice, a field that seeks to address the causes and effects of past abuses while laying the foundations for sustainable peace.
Transitional justice surely does not end with past atrocities but continues addressing economic crimes, uncovering corruption, promoting economic recovery, and fostering reconciliation.
In essence, an argument against this extension could be the plausible administrative and logistic constraints.
Undeniably, examining economic crimes over a longer interval would require more time, resources, and commitment.
However, the pursuit of inclusive justice ought not to be limited by temporal or administrative constraints.
The rainbow of reform in Liberia will only be complete when justice is exhaustive, comprehensive, and holds continuity.
Furthermore, a critical factor catalyzing this contention for extension is the opportunity to scrutinize current audits.
By doing so, the Economic Crime Court would not only be backward-looking but also forward-looking.
Such a perspective would facilitate the growth of a systems approach to tackling economic crime, wherein ways to mitigate future instances of economic crime are identified and implemented.
Lastly, it is undeniably essential to contemplate the ECC’s legacy.
Its establishment sends a strong message that economic crimes will not be tolerated, that those responsible will be held to account, and that justice will be pursued relentlessly.
By extending the Economic Crime Court’s temporal jurisdiction from 1979 to 2023, we would be ensuring that this legacy is not short-lived but is enduring and continually relevant.
The birthing of Liberia’s Economic Crime Court avails a unique opportunity to restore faith in fiscal transparency, accountability, and justice.
To truly metamorphose the economic landscape, the Economic Crime Court must peer deeper into the past while keeping an eye on the future.
Limiting its scope to 2003 might seem logical concerning historical events, but it blunts the power of what this institution can and should achieve.
The Economic Crime Court must embody the aspirations of Liberians for a system free of economic crime, which extends beyond merely punishing offenders towards cultivating a culture of public sector accountability for sustainable socio-economic development
Therefore, it is not only advisable to stretch the ECC’s jurisdiction until 2023 but critically necessary.