MONROVIA – John H.T. Stewart, former Commissioner of Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), has raised serious concerns over the Government of Liberia’s delay in providing committed funding for the Office for the Establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court (OWECCL). In a thought-provoking write-up issued on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Stewart described the matter as a national exigency requiring immediate presidential attention.
Stewart applauded President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for previously honoring the TRC’s recommendations, particularly the dignified reburial of slain Presidents William R. Tolbert Jr. and Samuel K. Doe. He noted that President Boakai not only facilitated their reburial but also issued a national apology on behalf of the Government of Liberia for the horrors of the civil war.
What remains unclear, however, is the source of funding for the reburial program. Stewart questioned whether the event was financed through an allocation in the national budget or from undisclosed sources. “The point being made is that the program was held and that funds were provided for that purpose,” Stewart remarked.
In contrast, Stewart expressed frustration that funds promised for the OWECCL have yet to be disbursed. President Boakai, early in his administration, committed to allocating US$2 million annually toward the court’s establishment. However, Stewart noted that this amount was reportedly never mainstreamed into the national budget, leaving the initiative in financial limbo.
“Just why this is the case remains an enigma,” Stewart wrote. He pointed to other significant government expenditures, such as Liberia’s successful bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which reportedly cost over US$3 million. He questioned whether that sum was included in the national budget or sourced elsewhere.
Stewart also reminded the public that before Liberia secured the UNSC seat, President Boakai had written to the United Nations Secretary-General requesting technical assistance in establishing the war and economic crimes court. Following that, the president appointed an executive director and provided an initial US$500,000 in operational funds to the court’s office.
Despite these early efforts, Stewart criticized the current inertia surrounding OWECCL funding. He argued that while symbolic acts such as state reburials are commendable, they pale in national importance compared to the need for truth, justice, and accountability through a functioning war and economic crimes court.
“The establishment of a war and economic crimes court for Liberia is an imperative for peace, a national exigency that must be addressed if Liberia is to fully emerge from its troubled past,” Stewart emphasized.
He warned that lingering inaction by the government could sabotage years of momentum and public expectation. He called on officials to explain to the Liberian people why the process is stagnating and what it will take to move forward.
“Liberians are watching. The international community is also watching and waiting to see if there is resolve and the political will to move things forward,” he cautioned.
Stewart praised the work of Cllr. Jallah Barbu, Ph.D., and his team who, with support from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other partners, have completed and submitted a roadmap to President Boakai’s office outlining the necessary steps to establish the court.
Regardless of the technical input and donor support, Stewart noted that the burden ultimately lies with the President. “It is he who will take the credit if the process concludes successfully or, if not, it is he who will take all the blame,” he stated.
As Liberia prepares to celebrate its 178th Independence Anniversary, Stewart reflected on the legacy of the country’s two civil wars, which left thousands dead and countless others wounded and traumatized. He argued that the war made a mockery of Liberia’s sovereignty, and that only through justice and reconciliation can the nation restore its dignity.
He recalled that peace was restored with the support of international partners, especially West African nations. But two decades later, the promises of justice and accountability remain unfulfilled. “Those aspirations still remain unfulfilled,” he lamented.
Stewart warned that the current slowdown in establishing the court could result in the death of the initiative. “Will President Boakai allow the strangulation and eventual death of the OWECCL to happen under his watch? I doubt it, but in the world of politics, anything can happen,” he said.
In closing, he stressed that the president, as the leader of the nation, would either be credited for fulfilling Liberia’s quest for justice or be held responsible for its failure.
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