MONROVIA – Bong County Senator Prince K. Moye, Sr. has been honored by the National Association of Public Defenders of Liberia for his leadership in securing a historic US$200,000 allocation for the country’s Public Defenders Program in the 2026 Supplementary Budget, marking the first direct government appropriation to the program since its establishment.
The recognition ceremony, held at the Capitol Building, brought together members of the legal community, lawmakers, judicial stakeholders, and public defenders from across Liberia to celebrate what many described as a significant milestone in strengthening access to justice.
By Selma Lomax
The Association’s President, Cllr. Bestman Juah, praised Senator Moye for championing the allocation during legislative deliberations, describing the funding as a breakthrough that acknowledges the indispensable role public defenders play in safeguarding the constitutional rights of indigent citizens.
According to Cllr. Juah, the absence of direct budgetary support over the years has placed enormous pressure on public defenders, many of whom have continued representing vulnerable defendants despite limited resources, inadequate logistics, and growing caseloads.
He said the newly approved allocation signals a renewed commitment by the Legislature to improving Liberia’s criminal justice system and ensuring that justice is accessible to all, regardless of financial status.
Accepting the recognition, Senator Moye expressed appreciation to the Association, stating that he was humbled by the honor and viewed it as recognition of the Legislature’s collective responsibility to strengthen institutions that uphold the rule of law.
He emphasized that protecting the constitutional rights of every Liberian, especially those unable to afford legal representation, must remain a national priority.
“This recognition is deeply appreciated, but I believe it truly belongs to every public defender who has continued serving our people under difficult conditions. Our responsibility as lawmakers is to ensure that justice is not determined by a person’s financial ability but by the equal protection guaranteed under our Constitution,” Senator Moye said.
The Bong County lawmaker acknowledged that while the US$200,000 allocation represents a historic achievement, it is only an important first step toward addressing the longstanding needs of the Public Defenders Program.
He noted that increasing crime-related cases and expanding court activities across the country require greater investment in legal aid services, improved logistical support, and additional personnel to effectively serve indigent defendants.
“We should not consider this allocation the end of the conversation. It is the foundation upon which we must build a stronger and better-funded public defense system. I remain committed to advocating for increased budgetary support so our public defenders can carry out their constitutional mandate with dignity and effectiveness,” Senator Moye added.
He further called on development partners, members of the Judiciary, the Liberia National Bar Association, and civil society organizations to continue supporting reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s justice sector.
According to him, collaboration among all justice stakeholders is essential to reducing prolonged pretrial detention, eliminating unnecessary case backlogs, and restoring greater public confidence in the judicial system.
The US$200,000 appropriation is expected to enhance legal representation for indigent defendants, improve the operational capacity of public defenders nationwide, and expand access to legal services in underserved counties. Justice advocates believe the funding will also help accelerate case processing and promote fairer and more efficient judicial proceedings.
The 2026 Supplementary Budget has been passed by the National Legislature and now awaits the President’s signature before the allocation becomes effective, paving the way for the Public Defenders Program to receive its first direct government funding in Liberia’s history.
