Monrovia – Minister of State Without Portfolio and head of the Special Presidential Task Force, Cllr. Fonati Koffa says corruption is one of the elements troubling Liberia and its citizenry as well as tinting the image of government negatively, something he says is sometimes without facts, noting the act needs to be discouraged.
Corruption according to him is difficult to fight in Liberia because most instances of bribery are done in hiding which creates difficulties for investigation, placing emphasis on the Global Witness “The Deceiver” report which alleged that House Speaker Alex Tyler, the Unity Party Chairman and Grand Cape Mount County Senator Cllr. Varney Sherman extorted US$950 Thousand from Sable Mining.
Speaking recently with Liberia traditional leaders at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Monrovia on government stance on the Global Witness Report, Cllr. Koffa emphasized the need for citizens to be informed about attempts by some stakeholders to sell the Wologisi Mountain in Lofa County to foreigners in the West, an engagement he termed unhealthy for Liberia’s progress.
“My people you get to know, I think all of us live here in Liberia long time, corruption didn’t start with this government alone, corruption started in Liberia long time but the difference between that time and now is we carry them to court and this is the process we have started and it is improving gradually”, Cllr. Koffa explained.
Cllr. Koffa said, those accused in the Global Witness ‘Deceiver’ report are children of traditional leaders and government cannot take action against them without the chiefs knowledge, especially where President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has said she is treating the issues as an emergency.
He briefed the chiefs about the current proceeding on the Global Witness Report noting that government is not witch-hunting those linked with the report but to set a standard that will deter others from engaging in corrupt practices in Liberia.
At the same time, Acting Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf said traditional leaders’ participation in the investigation as cardinal to fostering development and creating a peaceful coexistence in Liberia.
“You know the country that we have is a poor country and in order to have development we need partners. We live in a global village where we exchange resources and people come here to help us and we are depending on them”, Minister Sirleaf said.
He informed traditional leaders of government position on persecuting those linked with the Global Witness Report, under the caption “The Deceiver”.
According to Minister Sirleaf, the saga borders on Liberia’s image and the Ministry of Internal Affairs cannot be rooted out on explaining what government has done and intents to do in relation to the report.
Speaking during the briefing with traditional leaders on government stance with the Global Witness Report at the Ministry, he reminded traditional leaders of their key role in resolving issues across Liberia and that the Global Witness Report is no exception.
Traditional leaders from five of Liberia’s fifteen political subdivisions were represented at the forum.
Meanwhile, the traditional leaders in separate remarks expressed their reservation about government delay on taking actions against corrupt officials who were previously named in anti-corruption reports.
The Chiefs further promised to take the matter back to their various towns and villages to inform their people on the situation abide.
Willie N. Tokpah/[email protected]
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