Monrovia – President Joseph Nyumah Boakai has officially launched the first International Stakeholders Conference and Technical Workshop organized by the Office of the Ombudsman, aimed at strengthening ethical governance, administrative justice, and credible complaint handling across Liberia’s public sector.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Liberian leader, Justice Minister Cllr. Owald Tweh said Liberians deserve a clean, transparent, and fair public service, describing the gathering as a new chapter in the country’s ethical governance journey.
“Governance reform under Pillar Four of the ARREST Agenda provides a clear role for the Office of the Ombudsman, particularly regarding compliance with the Code of Conduct,” Cllr. Tweh stated.
The Justice Minister emphasized that the government remains fully committed to supporting the independence and credibility of the Ombudsman. Quoting President Boakai, he stressed that the administration will not tolerate conflicts of interest and will ensure timely responses to all requests from the Office regarding adherence to the Code of Conduct.
“For too long, the lack of transparency has created distance between the people and their government,” he noted.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, a representative of the European Union delegation called for the full strengthening of the Ombudsman institution and encouraged sustained engagement with the media and civil society organizations. The EU stressed that collaboration with other integrity institutions would amplify the voices of the less fortunate and help address societal concerns more effectively.
“Liberia must find its own way to address its challenges in the best interest of its people,” the EU delegation admonished.
The three-day conference, held from February 18 to 20, 2026, is being convened under the theme: “Strengthening Accountability through Partnerships and Dialogue.”
The event is organized with support from the European Union and the Government of Liberia.
The gathering brought together Ombudsman institutions and integrity bodies from across Africa, Europe, and Asia to exchange experiences and share best practices in advancing ethical standards and institutional accountability.
Cllr. Finley Karngar, Chairman of the Office of the Ombudsman, used the occasion to recognize and symbolically award members who served on the Brownell Committee.
The Brownell Committee was established by former President William R. Tolbert following the April 14, 1979 rice riots in Monrovia. Among its key recommendations was the formulation of a Code of Conduct to guide the actions of public officials and government servants.
The ceremony brought together senior government officials, representatives of integrity institutions, civil society actors, youth groups, academics, journalists, and technical experts from Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Day Two of the conference will be held at the Ellen JohnsonSirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, while technical sessions on Day Three will take place at the European Union Conference Hall in Mamba Point.
During the program, President Boakai, through the Justice Minister, also launched the Office of the Ombudsman’s Strategic Plan Road Map (2025–2029), reaffirming his administration’s commitment to integrity reforms and administrative justice.
Among the international speakers was Dr. Klavs Kinnerup Hede of the Danish Parliamentary Ombudsman, who is leading discussions on technical cooperation under the partnership framework.
Ms. Ines Zuidweg of the Office of the National Ombudsman of the Netherlands shared practical experiences on case handling and institutional learning, while Mr. Mohamad Alhadjri, a Netherlands-based Ombudsman expert, is supporting the technical sessions and comparative learning component.
The program was further graced by prominent Ombudsman and accountability leaders from Africa and Asia. Advocate KholekaGcaleka, Public Protector of South Africa, presented lessons on building a strong Ombudsman institution within a constitutional democracy, highlighting issues of independence, mandate clarity, and citizen engagement.
Ms. Ayesha Hamid of the Office of the Ombudsman, Pakistan, spoke on administrative justice and grievance redress mechanisms, emphasizing how effective complaint resolution can improve public administration and service delivery.
Dr. Joseph Whittal of Ghana’s Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), along with Advocate Tejan Ahmed Israel Jah, Esq., Ombudsman of Sierra Leone, are also expected to participate.
The Office of the Ombudsman has called for broad participation from government ministries and agencies, oversight bodies, professional associations, the media, and civil society organizations, underscoring what it describes as a whole-of-society approach to strengthening accountability and promoting ethical governance in Liberia.
