MONROVIA – Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has endorsed a proposed Specialized National Anti-Corruption Court. She argues Liberia investigates corruption but rarely secures convictions. Sirleaf made the appeal as keynote speaker at the National Anti-Corruption Dialogue. The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) organized the event. She urged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to act swiftly on the proposal. Sirleaf also renewed her support for a War and Economic Crimes Court. The Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OWECC-L) echoed her call. Executive Director Jallah A. Barbu said accountability requires coordinated institutional action. The remarks add new pressure on lawmakers for swift judicial reform, as THE ANALYST reports.
Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed support for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court and the proposed Specialized National Anti-Corruption Court, both being advanced by the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OWECC-L). She urged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to give both initiatives the attention they deserve.
Sirleaf Recalls Early Reforms
Reflecting on Liberia’s anti-corruption journey, Sirleaf said corruption was deeply entrenched before she assumed office in 2006. “When I took the Presidential Oath of Office in January 2006, Liberia was a nation where corruption was largely the operating system,” she stated. “Public office had become, for too many, a license for personal extraction rather than an obligation to serve.”
The former president highlighted reforms introduced during her administration, including strengthening key accountability institutions such as the General Auditing Commission, the Governance Commission, the Internal Audit Agency, the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). However, she noted that the absence of a specialized judicial mechanism has prevented many corruption cases from ending in successful prosecutions.
Calls For Specialized Court
Sirleaf argued that Liberia now needs a Specialized National Anti-Corruption Court to ensure corruption cases are handled efficiently, professionally, and free from political interference. She warned that delays within the regular court system have weakened public confidence and undermined the country’s fight against corruption.
Turning to transitional justice, Sirleaf also reaffirmed her support for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court, describing it as a vital step toward addressing atrocities committed during Liberia’s civil conflict and prosecuting economic crimes linked to that period. She called for the court to remain independent, adequately resourced, and protected from political interference.
Sirleaf Urges Boakai To Act
Calling for decisive leadership, Sirleaf urged President Boakai to act swiftly on the proposal for a Specialized National Anti-Corruption Court. “We therefore call on the President to treat the request for the Specialized Court with the seriousness it deserves and to take the necessary corrective executive actions on that and the several scandals that plague our society,” she declared. She added that a credible accountability system is essential to strengthening the rule of law, promoting good governance, and sustaining Liberia’s development.
OWECC-L Reaffirms Its Mandate
Also speaking at the dialogue, OWECC-L Executive Director Cllr. Dr. Jallah A. Barbu reaffirmed the institution’s unwavering commitment to advancing accountability and transitional justice in Liberia. Barbu noted that OWECC-L remains committed to working openly, transparently, and inclusively with government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, the media, victims’ groups, and the Liberian public to ensure the successful establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court.
He emphasized that accountability is essential to strengthening the rule of law, ending the culture of impunity, and promoting lasting peace and reconciliation, adding that OWECC-L will continue to execute its mandate with professionalism, integrity, and independence. The CENTAL dialogue brought together senior government officials, members of the judiciary, civil society organizations, development partners, anti-corruption advocates, and representatives of accountability institutions to discuss practical measures for strengthening Liberia’s fight against corruption through judicial reform.