-Takes 2025 International Anti-corruption Day to Margibi County
MARGIBI COUNTY – In Liberia’s quest to end the menace of corruption, a renewed focus is being placed on young people. “If Youth are powerful agents for positive change, we must use that power to ask questions about allocations in the national budget for Margibi County”, said Christiana Sonpon, a media manager in Kakata City, Margibi County, in a Keynote address delivered Tuesday, December 9, 2025, during programs organized in observance of International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD). Christiana is credited for utilizing her radio platform to advocate for improved service delivery in Margibi. Those efforts she promised to continue as part of efforts to increase accountability and improve service delivery.
With support from the Embassy of Ireland in Liberia through the Strengthening Political Governance and Accountability in Liberia Project, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, Center for Democratic Governance (CDG), the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission (LACC) and the National Integrity Forum of Liberia (Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â NIF) partnered to host the landmark county-level observance of the IACD in Kakata City, Margibi County in parallel with the national event in Monrovia. The event was under the theme: Decentralizing the Fight Against Corruption, Mobilizing Rural Youths to Demand Accountability and Improved Service Delivery.
The event was included a parade through the streets of Kakata and a subsequent petition read by Aminata Sheriff of the E.J Yancy Public School and submitted to Ojay Morris, Superintendent of Margibi County, outlining the effect of corruption and recommendations for prompt action. The petition, amongst others, urged Superintendent Morris to lead by example, collaborate with public integrity institutions, support in-county anti-corruption practitioners, ensure the protection of whistleblowers, and hold officials accountable.
In his response to the petition, Superintendent Morris expressed a commitment to ensuring that his administration adheres to the principles of integrity and accountability. “As Superintendent, I can assure you my administration will work to protect the integrity and resources of our county under the mandate of the president”, he said.
Randolph E.V. Tebbs, Commissioner for Monitoring and Investigation, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), read the official IACD message of Executive Chairperson, Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe which reflected the danger of corruption and mechanisms available to seek redress, including the 5222 hotline. Good E. Kolubah, Senior Program Advisor, Embassy of Ireland in Liberia, encouraged the youth to hold their leaders accountable as it is a catalyst for sustainable change. He said Ireland stands with the young people because the fight against corruption is everyone’s business. “Let’s continue to work together for a more transparent and prosperous Liberia”, he added.  This position was further echoed by CENTAL’s Project Lead, Torwon F. Gensee, who emphasized the need to heightened advocacy efforts for improved service delivery in Margibi County. Remarking on behalf of the National Integrity Forum (NIF), Armah Johnson, Acting Director for Compliance, Independent Information Commission (IIC) reminded all and sundry that progress in the fight against corruption is not measured by speeches that detest it but actions taken.
As the world commits to uniting against corruption, CENTAL and its partners are reminding young people especially those in the rural areas of their vital role to reject corruption and demand accountability from leaders for improved service delivery.
