By Amos Harris |
The new Registrar General for Cooperative Development Agency, CDA, Madam Lwopu G. Kandakai has stressed the importance of accountability and proper auditing to combat corruption within the Cooperative Movement in Liberia and ensure the effective use of funds provided by Government and development partners.
Madam Lwopu G. Kandakai said until Liberians can eschew self-interest and put the country first, things will never change in the country. She disclosed that cooperative societies will be accountable for monies given them and urged cooperative societies to exercise a high degree of honesty in managing funds received from government and development partners.
The experienced Administrator highlighted the significance of taking legal actions against individuals members and leaderships of Cooperative Societies found guilty of mismanagement, stressing the need for setting examples to deter such behavior.
The new CDA Boss pointed out challenges in Rivercess County and called for decisive actions to uphold integrity within the Cooperative Movement in Liberia.
” We will have to make sure to sensitize the people enough through cooperative awareness including drama, flyers and jingles because development’s greatest enemy is corruption. We have to jump over corruption, if this culture of corruption doesn’t change, it is going to force us to that level of getting it changed and what we have for it as a medicine is audit,” Madam Lwopu G. Kandakai said.
Over two hundred beneficiaries received financial support from Conservation International in 2022-2023 from its Blue Oceans Program to empower fishmongers and women in Cooperative Societies.
Unity First Fishery Cooperative Society and Fanti Fish Folks with combined membership of 148 in Cestos City, Rivercess County received US$43, 300.29 and Help Yourself Fishery Cooperative Society, Timo Kru, Rivercess County with the membership of 53 received 23,648.45 which is intended to rotate among members of the Cooperative Societies.
Madam Kandakai used the occasion to thank the Conservation International’s family for their tireless support to Cooperative Societies in Liberia through the Blue Oceans Program and promised to continue to work with CI for the betterment of the Liberian people.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the Conservation International, CI, the Program Director, Mike Kava thanked the Government of Liberia through the Cooperative Development Agency for its collaboration since the beginning of the program in nine coastal counties in Liberia.
The CI’s Program Director said the goal of Blue Oceans Program is to provide sustainable management of Liberia’s coastal and marine ecosystem through conservation and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystem services to alleviate poverty, protect biodiversity, and mitigate and adapt to climate change.
“Funds given to each of the women from these Cooperative Societies are intended to rotate among them to empower members in their various communities in line with the Blue Oceans Program goals,” Mike Kava said.
