KAKATA, MARGIBI COUNTY – The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with funding support from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, has completed a two-day training workshop aimed at strengthening citizen oversight in governance and service delivery.
Held in Kakata, Margibi County, the training brought together Social Accountability Volunteers under the ongoing project titled “Empowering Citizens and Communities to Foster Social Accountability and Transparency in Governance and Public Service Delivery.” The initiative is designed to empower ordinary citizens to detect, report, and discourage acts of corruption within their communities.
Speaking at the opening of the event, Mr. Danny D. Moses, representing the Margibi County Superintendent’s Office, welcomed the LACC and UNDP teams, acknowledging their joint efforts to curb corruption. “The LACC is here to checkmate us as public servants,” Mr. Moses admitted, warning that institutions will fail to grow when transparency is compromised.
Addressing the volunteers, Mr. John E. Tommy, Program Manager in the LACC’s Education and Prevention Department, urged participants to remain nonpartisan in their roles. He emphasized that the volunteers would function as the Commission’s “eyes and ears” on the ground, playing a critical role in exposing corruption and promoting accountability. He assured them of the Commission’s full backing, including protection for whistleblowers and professional handling of reports. “Your safety, integrity, and commitment matter to us,” Tommy stated.
He warned that corruption erodes public trust, incites conflict, and deprives Liberia of much-needed development resources. “Together, through vigilance and courage, we can dismantle the systems that enable corruption and lay the foundation for a thriving nation,” he said.
Also speaking at the training, LACC Oversight Commissioner Randolph Tebbs underscored the vital role citizens must play in combating corruption. “This is not a battle for institutions alone. It demands the active participation of informed and empowered citizens,” he remarked, stressing the Commission’s ongoing support for volunteers and whistleblowers.
Representing the UNDP, Project Manager Trokon Bryant reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting the Liberian government’s anti-corruption agenda. He disclosed that the Social Accountability Volunteers initiative, which began in three counties, has now expanded to six, thanks to credible reports and accurate monitoring by local participants. However, he cautioned volunteers against taking unnecessary risks. “Do not endanger yourselves or your families. UNDP stands with you to the end,” Bryant said, encouraging continued vigilance.
