In her Anti-Corruption Day Message, the LACC Executive Chairperson frowned on the poor state and its failure to independently address basic social needs after 177 years of existence.
By Lewis S. Teh
Monrovia, December 9, 2024: The Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe has urged the international community, particularly Liberia’s development partners, to collectively match program funding with outcomes.
The LACC’s call at the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day held Friday, December 6, 2024, seeks to tackle systemic corruption and demonstrate value for money.
In a statement delivered at the Monrovia City Hall, Cllr. Zoe stressed that it is a standardized practice to measure development interventions by the changes that occurred as a result of projects or program implementations.
The occasion brought together government officials, students, local and international partners, and civil society actors.
It was held under the national theme: “Promoting Integrity and Accountability for Increased Citizens’ Participation in the Fight Against Corruption.”
The international theme for the program was “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.”
“It is high time we place a premium on Monitoring and Evaluation and demand value for money in development interventions,” she emphasized.
She expressed the LACC’s commitment to working with development partners of Liberia.
According to her, the collaboration seeks to include the M&E Framework in all development projects to jointly monitor and evaluate those projects upon completion and identify strengths and challenges, as well as lessons learned.
“This will enhance planning of future projects and improve outcomes.”
Cllr. Zoe also warned against rhetoric by political leaders in the country, urging them to desist from such acts and take better actions in the interest of the citizens.
She wants political leaders to embody, exemplify, and demonstrate integrity in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
“Remember, the spotlight is on you. The youth of Liberia looks up to you for honesty, accountability, and fairness. You dare dash, not their hope.”
“Liberia’s Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development is on the horizon,” the LACC boss stressed.
She added that the strategic objectives are appetizing and it imbeds the hope and aspirations of the Liberian people from 2025 to 2029.
She further lauded President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s technology project for youth.
She expressed optimism that the training will translate into absorptive capacity and employment opportunities for the youth of Liberia in the coming months.
“To the youth of Liberia, I charge you to fight for your place at the table of national decision-making,” she urged.
Cllr. Zoe called on the youth to insist on their representation and participation in policy-making and development-planning processes and avoid the gratification that comes from the proceeds of corruption.
She further described corruption as Liberia’s enemy of progress and shared prosperity, and called on all Liberians to unite against corruption.
“I call on all Liberians at home and abroad, young and old, rich or poor, educated or illiterate, Christians or Muslims, African Traditional Religion, social and economic status, Americo-Liberians or natives; we are all victims of a collective national indictment,” she averred.
Also in her Anti-Corruption Day Message, the LACC Executive Chairperson expressed strong dissatisfaction over the poor state of Liberia despite the country’s 177 years of existence without independently addressing the basic social needs and wants of its citizens.
“After more than one hundred and seventy-seven years of independence, we are still struggling to supply pipe-borne water to residents of Monrovia,” she stressed.
According to her, Liberians still struggle to provide stable electricity to undergird economic activities and enhance industrial development.
She continued that the vast majority of the citizens still live on less than US$1 a day.
The LACC boss detailed it is sad for the country to still be constructing primary roads to connect to county capitals.
“After 177 years, we cannot feed ourselves even with vast rainforest and fertile soil.”
“In the fight against corruption, as we unite with youth in the fight against corruption in shaping tomorrow’s integrity, the natural starting point is education,” she said.
According to the LACC boss, education plays a powerful role in shaping the values of young people and their perspectives of the world.
She also indicated that the objective of such education should transcend mere academic achievements and focus on learning life skills like honesty, accountability, and fairness.
Cllr. Zoe noted that schools and educational programs that concentrate on critical thinking and problem-solving help young people understand the importance of integrity in decision-making.
