Monrovia – The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP), in collaboration with the Liberia Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce, has successfully concluded a series of Asset Recovery Awareness Town Hall meetings across four counties in Liberia. The final town hall was held over the weekend in Logan Town, Montserrado County, bringing the civic engagement initiative to a close.

Prior to the Logan Town engagement, similar town hall meetings were held in Ganta, Nimba County, Gbarnga, Bong County, and Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. These meetings served as a platform for educating citizens about the importance of asset recovery in the fight against corruption, the legal mechanisms available, and how the general public can contribute to efforts aimed at reclaiming stolen or misappropriated public assets.

The town hall meetings were complemented by targeted radio talk shows aired on Cape FM, Radio Gbarnga, Ableejay Radio, and Radio Kehngamah. These broadcasts amplified the message of transparency, accountability, and the legal imperative of asset recovery, ensuring the initiative reached a broader audience, including citizens in rural and underserved communities.

CEMESP’s Executive Director, Malcolm Joseph, emphasized the importance of public participation in the asset recovery process. “This campaign is not only about recovering what has been taken from the Liberian people, but also about restoring trust in public institutions,” Joseph noted. “Our citizens must understand that asset recovery is both a legal and civic responsibility.”

The Liberia Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce commended the public for their enthusiasm and engagement during the meetings. The Communication and Media officer of AREPT Joseph Daniels   provided practical guidance on how citizens can report suspected cases of stolen public assets and the legal protection available to whistleblowers.

This initiative is part of a broader anti-corruption project being implemented by CEMESP with funding support from the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). The project seeks to build public awareness, increase accountability, and support national efforts in tackling financial crimes through community engagement and advocacy.

Monrovia – In a continued effort to advance its mission of tracing, identifying, and retrieving stolen public assets, the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) has deepened its international outreach with a strategic diplomatic engagement with the Kingdom of Sweden.

On Tuesday, April 15, AREPT Chairman Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin and Co-Chair Dr. Rennie B. Jackson met with the Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Karl Bäckeus, at the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia. The meeting served to explore avenues for collaboration between the Taskforce and the Swedish government in supporting Liberia’s asset recovery initiatives.

During the discussion, Chairman Martin provided a detailed overview of AREPT’s mandate, current activities, and the critical role the Taskforce plays in Liberia’s anti-corruption agenda. He highlighted that several high-profile cases are currently under investigation, as part of a wider effort to retrieve assets illegally acquired at the expense of the Liberian people.

“We are committed to recovering stolen assets that rightly belong to the people of Liberia,” said Chairman Martin. “This is not just about accountability—it’s about restoring public trust and redirecting stolen resources to national development priorities. We believe international partnerships are vital to our success.”

Ambassador Bäckeus welcomed the briefing and acknowledged the impact of corruption on Liberia’s development. He commended the Task Force’s work and reaffirmed Sweden’s commitment to transparency and rule of law.

The Ambassador pledged to support Liberia in recovering any such assets within Swedish jurisdiction. He also expressed Sweden’s willingness to collaborate in other ways that may help AREPT efforts.

This engagement forms part of the task force’s broader strategy to work closely with Liberia’s international partners in building networks for effective asset recovery across borders. The Taskforce believes that continued diplomatic engagement will ensure greater cooperation in uncovering stolen assets wherever they may be held.

As Liberia intensifies efforts to tackle corruption and reclaim its stolen wealth, AREPT remains dedicated to transparency, justice, and the restoration of national resources for the benefit of all citizens.