MONROVIA-The Liberia Cso’s Anti-Corruption has welcomed recent comprehensive reports released by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC)
According to the group’s head James Koryor the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s report was comprehensive, unbiased, professional and met best practice and standard; and that findings contained in those reports are evidence-based and sufficient enough to be used for prosecution by the Ministry of Justice.
“Our attention has been drawn to key national issues with specifics focusing on the integrity and Anti-Corruption sector of the country as we want urgent decisions taken in said regard “, he added.
The investigation James told reporters covers, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), the Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation (LWSC), Liberia Institute for Statistics & Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) and Planned Parenthood Association of Liberia (PPAL) respectively.
According to Koryor, the report shows and convinces them that massive corruption had been carried out mainly those captured government’s entities and or institutions including gross violation of our Anti-corruption and integrity laws; PPCC Law, Public Financial Management Law, Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, amongst other.
According to the report, Madam Jeannie M. Cooper (Minister of Agriculture) knowingly and conscienciously awarded a contract worth US$180,000.00 a company she owned. James was curious about her intent.
The Report stated that the Termination of a professional consulting firm without a justifiable reason against advice from donor partners and grossly infringing the PPCC law for appointing a relative and confidant was unacceptable best practice.
Furthermore, Cooper, the Minister for Agriculture, allegedly opened another bank account and made her cronies as co-signatories. The LACC investigators were misled about the intent of the account. We strongly believe she was stealing and the Cso group noted.
Concerning LISGIS, he said that they raised the alarm June last year and that they are grateful to the LACC for booking senior officials of the institution for massive corruption. This includes Francis Wreh, the head of LISGIS and his Deputies.
“On the part of the LWCS, We look forward to a speedy prosecution and dismissal of the staff involved in the US$6,000 corruption saga”, he pointed out.
James, on the other hand, told reporters at a press conference that there was a huge level of conflict of interests that the LACC investigation at the PPCC has revealed.
“We at the Liberia CSOs Anti-Corruption Coalition believe that it is time we all support the LACC in discharge of its statutory functions and responsibilities in fighting corruption especially in the public sector in Liberia”, James disclosed.
The Cso group asks individuals and institutions, whether they are in government or civil society, to stop making unfounded and unprofessional comments about the LACC.
“We see these statements and unwarranted attack on the LACC’s report as a ploy and calculated attempt to undermine the fight against corruption in Liberia”, he noted.
The Liberia CSOs Anti-Corruption Coalition called on all the individuals named in the report immediately to abdicate all official duties of the entity that they represent, to submit their names to the Ministry of Justice, and to clear their names before the court of competent jurisdiction.
He stressed that the Coalition will also start effective tracking and monitoring of the process by the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary.
“We also want to sound this as a caveat, and let it grip the attention of the Minister and officials at the Ministry of Agriculture, the Director General and Officials of LISGIS, and others named in the LACC corruption investigative report; That the Coalition will initiate massive advocacy campaign utilizing people’s power approaches, mass citizens action and social media campaign to ensure that officials of government implicated or accused of corruption, should not be in office while going through prosecution, he emphasized.
A similar development is that the coalition is expected release and publish a listing of public officials who continue violating the Asset Declaration Law by failing to declare their asset prior or up to now.
Koryor stated that the Coalition is continuing to work to promote transparency and accountability in Liberia. They are also calling for the passage the following investigation: Direct Prosecutorial powers; Specialize Court for Corruption; Witness Protection, Whistleblower act
Complete eradication of Statute of limitation
Others include: An amendment to section 10.2 of Code of Conduct that allows the LACC sole repository of all Assets.
Liberia Anti-Corruption Coalition is a conglomeration of eight registered civil Society organizations aimed at promoting fiscal transparency, grass-root advocacy, Public Contract Monitoring, Transparency in Natural Resource Governance, and accountability in local government administration, integrity building and strengthening organizations and anti-corruption activists’ engagement in the fight against corruption in Liberia.
It was officially launched in 2019 with support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Legal Professional Development & Anti-Corruption Program (LPAC).
Source: New republic liberia
