By Stephen N. Sonpon
Monrovia, July 3 (LINA) – Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called for the establishment of a Specialized Anti-Corruption Court and renewed commitment to accountability, emphasizing that Liberia’s fight against corruption requires stronger institutions backed by effective enforcement.
Speaking Tuesday at the National Policy Dialogue organized by the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), the Center for Democratic Governance (CDG), Naymote Partners for Democratic Development and other civil society organizations, with funding support from the Government of Ireland, Madam Sirleaf said the country has made notable progress in strengthening governance but must now ensure that justice is consistently served.
The former President commended governance and accountability initiatives that have empowered more than 5,000 citizens in Margibi, Bong and Grand Bassa Counties to demand accountability from public officials, describing the effort as a practical demonstration of citizen participation in combating corruption.
She urged organizers and stakeholders to expand similar initiatives across the country to further strengthen democratic governance and public accountability.
Madam Sirleaf noted that although she accepted the invitation with some hesitation because discussions on corruption are often misunderstood or misreported, she chose to participate because promoting integrity and fighting corruption have remained central to her public service throughout her career and presidency.
Reflecting on the beginning of her administration in January 2006, the former Liberian leader said Liberia was emerging from years of conflict during which corruption had become deeply entrenched in public institutions.
She recalled that her administration deliberately pursued institutional reforms aimed at promoting transparency and accountability, including the enactment of the General Auditing Commission Act of 2014, which strengthened the independence of the Auditor General.
She also highlighted the strengthening of the Governance Commission, the establishment of the Internal Audit Agency, the Public Procurement and Concession Commission, the Financial Intelligence Unit, now the Financial Intelligence Agency, and the creation of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) in 2008.
According to Madam Sirleaf, her administration also introduced the Open Budget Initiative to improve transparency in public financial management while expanding the national budget as the country’s economy recovered.
Despite those achievements, the former President acknowledged that Liberia’s anti-corruption agenda remains unfinished.
She observed that while institutions were established to promote accountability, changing public attitudes toward corruption has proven more difficult, adding that anti-corruption institutions must be empowered not only to investigate alleged corruption but also to ensure successful prosecution and conviction of offenders.
She also called on President Boakai to give serious consideration to the proposal for a Specialized Anti-Corruption Court and to take the necessary executive actions to address corruption and other governance challenges confronting the country.
She further urged the Supreme Court to strengthen the performance of the judiciary in keeping with its constitutional mandate, while encouraging members of the National Legislature to continue supporting reforms aimed at improving accountability and transparency.
The former President called on civil society organizations, including CENTAL and its partners, to sustain public education campaigns and advocacy efforts to ensure the proposed Specialized Anti-Corruption Court becomes an effective institution.
She further appealed to the private sector to refrain from engaging in corrupt practices, noting that ethical business conduct is essential to creating a favorable environment for private investment and sustainable economic growth.
Madam Sirleaf expressed appreciation to Liberia’s international partners for supporting nationally led governance reforms, stating that such partnerships enhance the country’s efforts to achieve its development objectives.
Reflecting on Liberia’s democratic progress, Sirleaf said the country has made significant gains since 2006 through the establishment of accountability institutions, improved public financial management, debt relief, peace consolidation and democratic transfers of power.
She stressed, however, that the next phase of the anti-corruption fight must focus on ensuring that corruption cases are investigated, corrective actions taken and justice delivered fairly, swiftly and without exception.
Madam Sirleaf urged Liberians to reject corruption in their daily lives and to hold public officials at every level of government.