MONROVIA – The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has released a damning report exposing severe administrative lapses within Liberia’s Judiciary, warning that the integrity and efficiency of the justice system are at risk if urgent reforms are not undertaken.
The audit, launched on August 27, 2025, by three CSA specialized teams, covered the Temple of Justice, the seat of the Supreme Court, along with the Paynesville and Gardnersville Magisterial Courts. Using digital tools such as code readers, cameras, and scanners, the exercise sought to update employee records, verify attendance, and assess workforce discipline.
Presenting the findings to Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, CSA Director General Josiah Joekai revealed that only 674 Judiciary staff, just 33 percent of the 2,048 strong national workforce, were physically verified in Montserrado County. The remaining 1,374 employees, representing 67 percent of the judiciary workforce across 14 counties, remain unverified. Joekai warned that unless the verification process is completed nationwide, “the credibility and functionality of the Judiciary could face further decline. Transparency, accountability, and efficiency cannot be optional in a justice system that serves as the bedrock of democracy.”
The audit uncovered widespread absenteeism, with 127 staff flagged for salary cuts after missing up to five days of work, 22 facing suspension for up to 13 days of absence, and 63 at risk of dismissal for prolonged absenteeism. Officials said nearly 40 percent of the verified workforce had serious attendance issues.
Equally troubling, the CSA found glaring gaps in qualifications. Of the 674 staff verified in Montserrado, 92 presented no academic qualifications at all, 243 had only high school diplomas, and 56 were flagged for questionable credentials. More than one-third of Judiciary employees were deemed underqualified for their positions, while about 150 staff were found misplaced in roles that did not match their skills or credentials.
The report also revealed systemic imbalances, including a 70-to-30 male-to-female staff ratio, 11 percent of employees already at retirement age, and another 22 percent set to reach retirement within the next decade. At least 40 employees were found to be completely unqualified for their current positions.
Beyond personnel records, the CSA exposed what it called a “dual and illegal payroll system” within the Judiciary. Joekai urged authorities to collapse the two payrolls into a single system, enforce stricter attendance monitoring, remove unqualified staff, and digitize human resource records to curb inefficiencies and waste.
Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay has already ordered a comprehensive personnel verification and credential audit across the Judiciary, mandating that all magistrates and employees of the First and Sixth Judicial Circuits in Montserrado, including staff at the Temple of Justice, comply with the exercise. According to the directive, the nationwide audit will assess academic and professional qualifications to ensure that Judiciary employees are fully capable of carrying out their duties.
The CSA’s findings have intensified public concerns about waste, fraud, and inefficiency in the country’s justice system. Critics warn that unless the reforms are swiftly implemented, Liberia’s courts risk losing both credibility and the public trust that underpins the rule of law.
