MONROVIA – Corruption continues to impose a heavy financial and institutional burden on Liberia’s fragile public sector, draining resources intended for development while eroding public trust in government institutions. The latest annual report from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) underscores the scale of the challenge confronting the country’s governance and accountability systems. With more than US$13 million and L$17 million estimated lost in corruption-related cases investigated during 2025, the report offers a sobering reminder of how misuse of public resources undermines national development efforts. At the same time, the Commission’s leadership insists that intensified investigations, rising compliance with asset declaration laws, and ongoing reforms—such as plans for a specialized anti-corruption court—signal growing determination to confront graft. THE ANALYST’s George C. Flomo reports.
The Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, has disclosed that corruption cases investigated by the Commission in 2025 resulted in an estimated loss of more than US$13 million and L$17 million to the Government of Liberia.
Presenting the Commission’s 2025 Fiscal Year Annual Report during the regular press briefing at the Ministry of Information on Tuesday, Cllr. Zoe described the year as one marked by intensified efforts by the anti-graft institution to prevent, investigate and prosecute corruption across public institutions in the country.
According to her, the Commission exceeded its initial investigative targets for the year. While the LACC had originally planned to investigate and conclude 16 cases—four per quarter, the Commission ended the year with 44 active cases handled between January and December 2025.
“Out of the 44 cases investigated, we were able to conclude 29 cases involving corruption and misuse of public resources,” Zoe disclosed. “The estimated financial loss to the government from these cases amounted to US$13 million and L$17 million.”
She stressed that the losses demonstrate the profound negative impact corruption continues to have on Liberia’s development prospects.
“Imagine if these monies were used for their intended purposes; they would have contributed significantly to Liberia’s development,” she said, emphasizing the Commission’s continued commitment to educating the public on the dangers of corruption.
Limited Investigators Handling Nationwide Cases
The LACC Chairperson revealed that the Commission currently operates with only 15 investigators, who are responsible for handling corruption cases across the entire country.
She explained that corruption investigations are often complex and require careful adherence to due process in order to protect the rights of individuals accused of wrongdoing.
“Investigating corruption is not something that can be done overnight,” she said. “Sometimes cases begin with relatively small figures, but as investigations progress and witnesses are interviewed, investigators may discover additional transactions requiring examination, including bank records and financial documents.”
Cllr. Zoe further explained that the Commission currently lacks the legal authority to subpoena bank records directly. Instead, it must collaborate with the Financial Intelligence Agency of Liberia (FIA) to obtain financial information needed to advance investigations.
Prosecution Efforts and Convictions
Providing details on prosecution efforts during the reporting period, the LACC Chairperson disclosed that 11 individuals were indicted in six corruption cases during 2025.
The cases involved several public institutions, including the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), and Lofa County University
Other investigations also included procurement-related issues concerning yellow machines in Bomi County.
Despite institutional challenges, Cllr. Zoe reported that the Commission secured three convictions in separate cases during the year.
However, she acknowledged that prosecution efforts remain constrained by structural limitations within Liberia’s judicial system.
Need For Specialized Anti-Corruption Court
One of the major obstacles, according to the LACC Chairperson, is that corruption cases are currently tried primarily at Criminal Court “C”, which also handles a wide range of other criminal matters.
“Criminal Court ‘C’ is presently the only court that deals with corruption-related cases, and many government institutions rely on that same court for different matters,” she explained.
As a result, cases frequently face delays because they must compete with other criminal proceedings for limited court time.
Cllr. Zoe, however, welcomed ongoing efforts by the government to establish a specialized anti-corruption court, noting that a draft bill aimed at creating such a court is nearing completion.
Once established, she said, the court would have dedicated judges responsible solely for corruption-related cases, which would help accelerate trials and strengthen efforts to recover stolen public assets.
Focus On Abandoned Development Projects
Looking ahead to 2026, the Commission plans to intensify investigations in rural Liberia, particularly focusing on abandoned development projects.
Zoe disclosed that the Commission has received reports of unfinished clinics, schools, bridges, and other infrastructure projects in rural communities despite contractors having been paid to complete the work.
“These projects are sitting incomplete in the counties, depriving citizens of services they deserve,” she said. “This is one of the areas we will concentrate on in 2026.”
Progress In Asset Declaration Compliance
The Commission also reported significant progress in the enforcement of Liberia’s asset declaration regime for public officials.
According to Cllr. Zoe, the LACC identified 2,812 government positions requiring asset declarations, including elected officials, appointed officials, procurement officers and other decision-makers within public institutions.
As of December 2025, the Commission had received 2,430 asset declarations, representing 90.1 percent compliance.
She credited the progress partly to the decision by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to suspend and withhold salaries of public officials who failed to comply with asset declaration requirements.
“That single action doubled the number of asset declarations received by the Commission,” Zoe noted.
However, she warned that the Commission will soon begin publishing the names of officials who refuse to declare their assets, a move intended to strengthen accountability.
“We will name and shame those who continue to defy the law,” she declared.
Expanding Public Awareness Campaigns
Beyond investigations and prosecutions, the Commission also intensified public education campaigns in 2025.
With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the LACC deployed social accountability volunteers in several counties to provide communities with information about corruption and incomplete government projects.
The Commission also organized training programs for journalists in Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa counties to strengthen media capacity in reporting corruption-related issues.
Cllr. Zoe emphasized the critical role of the media in uncovering corruption.
“Many of the cases we investigate originate from information reported by journalists,” she said. “The media has enormous power in shaping how the world perceives Liberia.”
Teaching Anti-Corruption In Schools
As part of its prevention strategy, the Commission collaborated with the Ministry of Education to develop an anti-corruption textbook for primary school students, specifically targeting grades three and four.
The textbook was officially launched during celebrations marking International Anti-Corruption Day in December.
According to Cllr. Zoe, the initiative is intended to instill ethical values and integrity in young Liberians from an early age.
“If we engage the youth now, they will grow up understanding corruption and become active participants in the fight against it,” she said.
Liberia Gains Regional Anti-Corruption Role
On the international stage, Liberia was recently elected Vice President of the West African Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions, a development Cllr. Zoe said reflects growing confidence in the country’s anti-corruption efforts.
The regional network promotes cooperation among countries to share intelligence and track suspects involved in cross-border corruption cases.
Investigative Backlog And Institutional Constraints
Responding to questions from journalists about the backlog of corruption cases, the LACC Chairperson explained that the Commission already has standard operating procedures guiding its investigative processes.
According to her, when a report of alleged corruption is received, the Commission conducts an initial assessment within three days.
The assessment is then forwarded for further evaluation, after which authorization may be granted for a full-scale investigation if sufficient grounds are established.
Despite these procedures, she acknowledged that the limited number of investigators remains the primary obstacle affecting the timely conclusion of cases.
The Commission began the 2025 fiscal year with 44 cases but was only able to conclude 29, highlighting the need to expand investigative capacity.
To address this challenge, the LACC is currently engaging the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to secure additional budgetary support.
According to Zoe, a modest increase in the Commission’s budget would enable the recruitment of additional investigators and support the institution’s decentralization efforts across Liberia.
Personal Motivation In A Demanding Role
Responding to another question about how she maintains motivation while leading in what is often considered a male-dominated sector, the Chairperson said her determination stems from a deep sense of national responsibility.
She emphasized that Liberia is the only country she calls home, where her children, relatives and fellow citizens live, and that this personal connection drives her commitment to public service.
Cllr. Zoe said she believes strongly that justice must be applied impartially and that those who abuse public trust must be held accountable.
She also credited the support of her team and the government for sustaining the Commission’s efforts to strengthen governance and fight corruption.
Commitment To Impartial Enforcement
In closing, Cllr. Zoe reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to impartiality in the fight against corruption.
“The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission will not be used for political purposes,” she declared. “Our responsibility is to protect public resources, strengthen national integrity systems and promote transparency and accountability in Liberia.”
She added that the Commission will continue working with government institutions, civil society organizations and the media to advance the national effort against corruption and ensure that public resources are safeguarded for the benefit of all Liberians.