By Amos Harris
MONROVIA, LIBERIA — Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Liberia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, has called for comprehensive reforms to the country’s Witness Protection Act and Whistleblower Act. He described the proposed amendments as essential to strengthening Liberia’s fight against corruption and economic crimes, as well as advancing transitional justice.
Speaking on Friday, July 3, 2026, during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement with civil society organizations and media institutions at the Monrovia City Hall, Cllr. Tweh explained that the proposed legal reforms are designed to provide significantly stronger protection for witnesses, whistleblowers, and victims who risk their lives by exposing corruption and other serious crimes. Addressing government officials, development partners, civil society representatives, journalists, and members of the diplomatic community, the Justice Minister emphasized that the initiative follows a Cabinet directive issued by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai in March 2025. That directive called for immediate amendments to existing laws to bolster accountability, improve transparency, and combat mineral smuggling within Liberia’s natural resource sector.
Cllr. Tweh praised the leadership of the Witness Protection Agency for working closely with the Ministry of Justice to develop the proposed amendments. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the revised legislation is enacted, stressing that protecting those who come forward with credible information is critical to restoring public confidence in Liberia’s justice system. According to the Attorney General, Liberia has historically failed to adequately protect individuals who expose wrongdoing, leaving many citizens fearful of reporting corruption and abuse. He noted that the proposed reforms aim to reverse that trend by creating a legal environment where citizens can safely cooperate with law enforcement without fear of intimidation or retaliation.
Reflecting on Liberia’s post-war justice process, Cllr. Tweh referred to the recommendations of the 2009 Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which highlighted the urgent need for a robust witness protection system. Although the Witness Protection Agency was established in 2021, he noted that it has lacked the necessary legal authority, institutional capacity, and financial resources to effectively protect witnesses and support accountability efforts.
Among the major structural updates, the Justice Minister disclosed that the proposed legislation would transform the current entity into the Witness and Whistleblower Protection Agency (WWPA), complete with an expanded national mandate. This new agency would be supervised by a Board of Advisors comprising representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, and other relevant institutions.
He further explained that the amendments would establish a direct legal framework linking the agency to Liberia’s proposed War and Economic Crimes Court. The legislation would introduce specialized protection measures for witnesses of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and gross human rights violations. These measures would include relocation programs and identity-change protocols for individuals facing serious security threats.
The Justice Minister also revealed that the draft law proposes much tougher criminal penalties for anyone who unlawfully discloses the identity of a protected witness. Under the proposal, such an offense would constitute a first-degree felony punishable by five to ten years of imprisonment. Employers who choose to retaliate against whistleblowers or obstruct ongoing investigations would face severe criminal and administrative sanctions, while courts would be legally empowered to authorize anonymous testimony and other protective measures.
To fund these initiatives, Cllr. Tweh said the amendments seek to establish a Victim-Focused Witness and Whistleblower Trust Fund. This fund will be supported by a minimum annual government allocation of US$1 million, supplemented by petroleum surcharge contributions and donor assistance to ensure the protection programs remain sustainable and effective over the long term.
Concluding his address, the Justice Minister urged civil society organizations, members of the media, legal professionals, and other key stakeholders to carefully scrutinize the draft legislation before it is officially submitted to the Legislature. He maintained that Liberia’s anti-corruption drive, its pursuit of justice, and the successful establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court will depend largely on public confidence that those who expose wrongdoing will receive meaningful, legal protection.
For his part, the Director of the Witness Protection Agency, Atty. Teklo Maxwell Grigsby, reiterated that the agency was established to protect individuals who report corruption and other serious offenses. He stressed that safeguarding whistleblowers remains essential to promoting transparency, accountability, and overall national development.
The one-day stakeholders’ engagement focused strictly on the proposed amendments to the Witness Protection Act of 2021 and the Whistleblower Act of 2021. The event was jointly convened by the Ministry of Justice and the Witness Protection Agency under the theme: “Strengthening Protection Mechanisms for Witnesses, Whistleblowers, and Victims: Advancing Liberia’s Anti-Corruption and Transitional Justice Commitments.”
The forum successfully brought together senior government officials, civil society organizations, human rights advocates, media practitioners, and international development partners. Key participating bodies included representatives from the Press Union of Liberia, the Liberian National Bar Association, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic Community of West African States, and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, all committing to strengthening Liberia’s justice and accountability institutions.