MONROVIA, Liberia – Government officials, anti-corruption institutions, civil society organizations, development partners and county representatives have called for stronger enforcement of anti-corruption laws, greater public accountability and increased citizen participation as Liberia seeks to strengthen its integrity system and improve public service delivery.
By Patience M. Jones,patiencejones@frontpageafricaonline.com
The call was made Wednesday, July 8 during the National Dialogue on Strengthening Integrity and Accountability Systems in Liberia, organized by Naymote Partners for Democratic Development in collaboration with the Governance Commission under the theme: “Strengthening Anti-Corruption and Integrity Systems to Advance Social Accountability, Inclusive Governance, Public Participation and Improved Service Delivery.”
Held at the Governance Commission Conference Hall in Sinkor, Monrovia, the dialogue brought together representatives of integrity institutions, government ministries and agencies, civil society organizations, county finance officers, development partners, the media and governance experts to examine challenges undermining transparency and identify practical solutions to strengthen Liberia’s governance framework.
Opening the forum, Alaric K. Tokpa, Acting Chairman of the Governance Commission, described integrity as the cornerstone of democratic governance and sustainable development.
Mr. Tokpa said Liberians are increasingly demanding transparent, accountable and responsive public institutions capable of delivering quality services, noting that meeting those expectations requires strong institutions, principled leadership and meaningful collaboration among government, civil society and development partners.
He emphasized that county authorities and finance officers play a critical role in ensuring that public resources are managed responsibly and development projects are implemented transparently.
“The Governance Commission firmly believes that integrity is the foundation of good governance. It is the basis upon which public confidence is built, investments are attracted, development is sustained and peace is preserved,” Mr. Tokpa stated.
He urged participants to move beyond dialogue by developing practical recommendations that strengthen national integrity systems while ensuring greater participation of women, youth and marginalized communities in governance processes.
Providing an overview of the initiative, Eddie D. Jarwolo, Executive Director of Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, said the dialogue forms part of the UNDP and United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)-supported project titled “Empowering Citizens and Communities to Foster Social Accountability and Transparency in Governance and Public Service Delivery.”
Mr. Jarwolo explained that while significant progress has been made in promoting community-level accountability, stronger coordination among government institutions, civil society organizations and development partners remains necessary to build a more effective national accountability system.
He said the dialogue also supports implementation of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), particularly Pillar IV on Governance and Anti-Corruption, by generating practical recommendations aimed at reinforcing Liberia’s National Integrity System.
According to him, strengthening partnerships between integrity institutions and citizens will increase public trust, improve institutional effectiveness and promote responsive democratic governance.
Speaking on behalf of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, John Alexander Martinez, stressed that corruption continues to undermine national development and called for stronger citizen participation in governance.
Mr. Martinez urged authorities to intentionally include young people and women in decision-making processes, especially within county councils and local governance structures.
He also raised concerns about reports of intimidation against civil society representatives participating in county governance and called for stronger feedback mechanisms to ensure citizens’ voices are heard and respected.
Representing UN Women, Country Representative Abul Hasnat Monjurul Kabir said anti-corruption efforts must go beyond legal and regulatory frameworks by addressing the disproportionate impact corruption has on women, persons living in poverty, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups.
Mr. Kabir noted that while governments often focus on institutions responsible for investigating corruption, equal attention must be given to citizens who experience barriers in accessing public services because of corruption and weak governance.
He encouraged stronger integration of gender perspectives into anti-corruption initiatives and urged stakeholders to ensure that recommendations emerging from the dialogue are implemented rather than remaining in reports.
UNDP, speaking on behalf of Resident Representative Aliou M. Dia, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting governance reforms that promote transparency, accountability and public participation.
The statement emphasized that corruption weakens public trust, discourages investment and undermines development, while calling for stronger institutions capable of delivering services that meet citizens’ expectations.
One of the strongest messages of the dialogue came from Jeffrey Nukata Yates, Head of Secretariat of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) and Chairperson of Liberia’s National Integrity Forum.
Mr. Yates argued that Liberia already possesses numerous investigative reports exposing corruption but lacks effective enforcement mechanisms.
He said anti-corruption institutions continue producing credible reports backed by substantial evidence, yet few individuals are held accountable.
“We cannot continue producing reports until Judgment Day without holding people accountable,” Yates declared. “Our focus must now shift from simply documenting corruption to enforcing the law and ensuring those responsible are prosecuted.”
He urged participants to develop recommendations that prioritize enforcement, prosecution and implementation of accountability measures rather than additional policy discussions.
Meanwhile, Atty. Samuel F. Dakana, Commissioner for Monitoring and Investigation at the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen financial oversight and improve implementation of audit recommendations across government.
Atty. Dakana explained the various audit processes used to evaluate government spending, compliance with financial regulations and performance of public institutions.
He disclosed that the Office of the Auditor General has completed hundreds of audits over the past five years, including audits of the Office of the President, the National Legislature, the Judiciary and several development partner-funded projects.
According to him, audit recommendation implementation improved from 13 percent in 2024 to 37 percent in 2025 following the establishment of a dedicated follow-up mechanism.
He said stronger implementation of audit recommendations is essential to improving transparency, strengthening internal controls and enhancing public service delivery.
Atty. Dakana also recommended greater collaboration among integrity institutions, including the General Auditing Commission, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Procurement and Concessions Commission and Internal Audit Agency, to ensure audit findings translate into meaningful corrective actions.
Throughout the dialogue, speakers agreed that Liberia’s fight against corruption must move beyond policy discussions toward stronger enforcement, institutional coordination, citizen oversight and inclusive participation.
Participants expressed optimism that the dialogue would produce actionable recommendations capable of strengthening transparency, restoring public confidence in governance institutions and advancing accountable leadership across Liberia.
