As the world celebrates International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD), the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has recommitted itself to national integrity building efforts as well as the fight against corruption and bad governance in Liberia. The day was observed Thursday, December 9, 2020 under the global theme: ‘Recover with Integrity to Build Forward Better’.
CENTAL Executive Director, Anderson D. Miamen, has said that CENTAL as a national civil society organization remains committed to leading and sustaining active civil engagements with diverse stakeholders and partners, including ordinary citizens, local and national officials, international NGOs, bilateral and multilateral institutions, private sector, media, and civil society to build integrity, fight against corruption and promote the culture of transparency and accountability in Liberia.
He, however, urged the Government of Liberia to show concrete commitment to the fight against corruption by providing adequate support to integrity institutions and ensure the prosecution of those accused of corruption.
December 9 is celebrated every year as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in combating and preventing corruption. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.
The International Anti-Corruption Day 2020 is an opportunity for recommitment to collectively act in preventing and addressing corruption, as well as to reflect on the devastating consequences of COVID-19 on governance institutions, the economy, and society. Corruption not only directs valuable resources away from financing development and recovery efforts, it could lead to a downward spiral of eroding public trust and social cohesion, undermining the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Due to the elections and referendum held yesterday, December 8, the 2020 IACD was celebrated in Liberia on December 2, 2020 at the Corina Hotel under the theme: “Reducing Corruption in the Private Sector as a Drive to Enhancing Economic Development and Good Governance.” The celebration was organized by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) in collaboration with the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) with support from the Government and people of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (SIDA).