MONROVIA – The new executive chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe has assured Liberians and its international partners that the new LACC is well positioned to fight corruption in Liberia.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
In her Anti-Corruption Day message, Cllr. Zoe said Liberia has made significant gains in the fight against corruption, thanks to the new, restated and amended Act of the LACC which grants it direct prosecutorial power.
The law, which replaced the 2008 Act that established the LACC, empowers the commission to investigate corruption cases, obtain indictments and proceed to court, without having to wait 90 days as was provided for in the 2008 Act.
“It will interest you to note that the 2022, restated and amended Act of the LACC grants the LACC direct prosecutorial power…The aforementioned enabling legislations have given the former toothless bulldog teeth to bite. Watch out, there is a new sheriff in town, Cllr. Zoe declared.
Cllr. Zoe and six other commissioners took over the new LACC amid a turbulent environment. After being quiet for a while following their appointment by President George Weah after a rigorous pre-selection exercise and subsequent confirmation by the Liberian Senate, it appears Cllr. Zoe and her fellow commissioners are showing resolve in spearheading the fight against corruption, a pervasive issue in Liberia.
Transparency International’s 2022 Corruption Perception Index ranked Liberia among the poor performing countries in the fight against corruption. Out of 180 countries captured, Liberia ranked 142, with a dismal score of 26 out of 100, three steps below its 2021 ranking of 29.
Acknowledging the arduous nature of combating corruption, Cllr. Zoe expressed hope for a brighter future, urging unity among anti-corruption advocates and emphasizing reasons for optimism based on achieved milestones.
“Fellow anti-corruption practitioners, we are aware that the journey before us is long and difficult. However, let us gather strength from some achievements we have made in the fight against corruption. We have reasons to be hopeful; we have reasons to celebrate and gaze into the future with reasonable optimism,” she said.
She unveiled plans to digitize the LACC’s asset declaration program, aiming to enhance compliance among public officials. This digital infrastructure will streamline the declaration process, enabling officials to declare assets remotely, an initiative expected to significantly boost compliance.
Additionally, the Commission is actively pursuing a decentralization program, seeking funding to establish regional offices across Liberia, expand operations to county levels, and intensify educational campaigns, investigations, and prosecutions.
Cllr. Zoe extended gratitude to civil society organizations for their advocacy in passing anti-graft laws, and commended the Liberian Legislature and President Weah for demonstrating political will in the fight against corruption.
However, she highlighted persistent challenges, including the absence of specialized courts dedicated to prosecuting corruption cases, insufficient budgetary support, and the need for financial autonomy and operational independence.
“Let’s match our words with deeds”
While acknowledging the government’s grant of prosecutorial power, Cllr. Zoe urged the Legislature to establish a specialized corruption court, emphasizing the necessity to expedite cases and relieve the burden on the current overloaded Criminal Court C.
She underscored the urgency for financial autonomy, stressing the need for timely budget allocations to support effective program implementation and staff operations. Insufficient salaries and delays in payment remain critical issues that demand immediate attention.
Citing a mismatch between declarations and action, Cllr. Zoe emphasized the necessity for the government to prioritize the fight against corruption by providing adequate financial support to bolster the efforts of LACC and other integrity institutions.
She said: “Since the establishment of the commission, its budgetary appropriation has not reached 3.0 million. Yet, we declared corruption as ‘Public Enemy Number One.’ If the government of Liberia must succeed in the fight against corruption, we must go beyond declarations to action and match our words with our deeds by giving adequate financial support to LACC and other integrity institutions to enhance the fight against corruption.” She warned that until the nation addresses corruption head-on, the development agenda of Liberia will be a mirage.
The International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD), celebrated annually on 9th December, was held this year under the theme “Uniting the World Against Corruption for Peace, Security, and Development” internationally and “Promoting Integrity for Increased Public Participation in the Fight Against Corruption” nationally.
The event, hosted at the Ellen Johnson Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, featured anti-corruption messages and panel discussions by key stakeholders, underscoring the ongoing commitment to combat corruption.
