(Monrovia, Liberia, March 6, 2025) – Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) Executive Chairperson, Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, has made a compelling plea for the establishment of a specialized Anti-Corruption Court in Liberia, arguing that it would significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Commission’s work. Cllr. Zoe’s call came during her participation as a panelist at the NAYMOTE-Liberia Summit for Democracy and Political Accountability held on March 5, 2025.
The panel discussion, themed “Improving Public Sector Governance and Accountability: The Role of Integrity Institutions,” convened key stakeholders, including Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan II, General Auditing Commission Auditor General, P. Garswa Jackson, Executive Director of CENTAL, Anderson D. Miamen, and Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Cllr. Boakai Kanneh, who moderated the session.
During her presentation, Cllr. Zoe highlighted the current challenges faced by the LACC due to the reliance on Criminal Court C, which handles both corruption cases and cases involving private citizens. She emphasized that this arrangement leads to significant delays in the adjudication of corruption cases. The creation of a dedicated Anti-Corruption Court, she argued, would streamline the process and allow the LACC to operate more efficiently in its fight against corruption.
“The delay in handling corruption cases is often due to the limited capacity of the current court system. When an Anti-Corruption Court is established, our cases will be dealt with more quickly, and the Commission’s work will run more smoothly,” Cllr. Zoe stated.
The LACC boss also detailed the Commission’s broad mandate, which encompasses investigating and prosecuting corruption, educating the public about its detrimental effects, and recovering assets stolen through corrupt practices. She stressed that these recovered assets are returned to the government for public use.
Furthermore, Cllr. Zoe discussed the LACC’s ongoing decentralization efforts, which aim to expand its reach across the country. She highlighted recent outreach activities in Gbarnga, Bong County, and Nimba, with plans to visit Bomi County in the near future. Additionally, she noted the Commission’s progress in digitalizing the asset declaration process, enabling individuals to declare their assets remotely.
The panel discussion commenced with opening remarks from Finance Minister Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, who underscored the critical role of national integrity institutions, such as the LACC, in promoting good governance and accountability in Liberia’s public sector. He emphasized that these institutions, alongside others like the General Auditing Commission, are vital in ensuring the transparent and effective use of public resources.
The NAYMOTE-Liberia Summit for Democracy and Political Accountability, a part of Naymote’s Democracy Advancement Program (DAP) in partnership with UNDP Liberia, serves as a crucial platform for discussing essential issues related to governance, transparency, and accountability in Liberia.
The summit continues to be an important step toward fostering a more accountable and transparent governance structure in Liberia, uniting key voices committed to the country’s democratic progress.
