MONROVIA – The Director of Liberia’s Witness Protection Agency, Cllr. Teklo Maxwell Grigsby II, has warned that fear, intimidation and retaliation against witnesses and whistleblowers could weaken the country’s ability to prosecute serious crimes, urging young Liberians to reject silence and become active defenders of justice.
Grigsby made the call on August 7, 2026, during the official opening of the Third Cohort of the Responsible Citizens Justice Program at the Ministry of Justice in Monrovia.
Representing the Witness Protection Agency, Grigsby said the success of Liberia’s justice system depends not only on investigators, prosecutors and courts, but also on citizens willing to disclose wrongdoing and testify when crimes are committed.
He said the agency was established to protect people whose information or testimony is essential to criminal investigations and prosecutions, particularly where those individuals face threats because of their cooperation with the justice system.
According to Grigsby, the agency provides physical protection, maintains confidentiality, facilitates safe relocation when necessary and supports protected witnesses before, during and after trials.
He said the agency’s mandate extends to witnesses, victims and whistleblowers, as well as their families, depending on the level of risk they face.
Grigsby identified sexual and gender-based violence, corruption, drug trafficking and organized crime among the areas in which witness protection is particularly important.
He warned that individuals who expose wrongdoing in such cases can face intimidation and retaliation, potentially discouraging others from coming forward.
“When fear silences that citizen, the state cannot prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Grigsby said, emphasizing that the consequences extend beyond individual cases.
He argued that when witnesses remain silent because of fear, suspects who might otherwise be held accountable can escape conviction, while public confidence in the justice system suffers.
Grigsby said the Witness Protection Agency is intended to confront that problem by ensuring that people who provide information or testimony receive protection in accordance with Liberia’s Witness Protection Act of 2021 and Whistleblower Act of 2021.
He described the agency’s role as giving ordinary Liberians the confidence to report wrongdoing without exposing themselves and their families to unnecessary danger.
The Witness Protection Agency director also used the occasion to highlight the importance of the Responsible Citizens Justice Program, particularly its focus on educating young Liberians about the justice system and their responsibilities as citizens.
He said a justice system cannot function effectively if citizens do not understand their rights, responsibilities and role in combating wrongdoing.
Grigsby argued that citizens who understand justice are more likely to value the rule of law and report violations, while effective protection can encourage others to come forward.
He therefore called on participants in the third cohort to take the lessons from the program into their schools, communities and homes.
He urged them to choose integrity even when dishonesty appears easier and to report wrongdoing even when remaining silent may seem safer.
The appeal comes at a time when Liberia continues to face concerns over corruption, organized crime and drug trafficking, all of which require credible information from citizens and insiders to support effective investigations and prosecutions.
Grigsby assured participants that citizens who cooperate with the justice system should not be left to face threats alone.
He said the Witness Protection Agency would continue working with the Ministry of Justice to protect witnesses and whistleblowers, educate the public about available protections and strengthen confidence in Liberia’s justice institutions.
The agency’s commitment, he said, is based on the principle that responsible citizenship should not be viewed as an individual burden but as a shared national responsibility.
Grigsby also commended Justice Minister and Attorney General Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh and the Ministry of Justice for expanding the Responsible Citizens Justice Program into its third cohort.
He congratulated the participants and challenged them to become responsible citizens and future leaders capable of strengthening Liberia’s justice system.
The central message from the Witness Protection Agency was clear. Liberia’s fight against serious crime cannot depend entirely on state institutions. Without citizens willing to speak, provide evidence and report wrongdoing, even well-resourced investigations can struggle to deliver justice.
For Grigsby, protecting those citizens is therefore not simply an institutional responsibility. It is a critical part of ensuring that Liberia’s justice system can confront crime, corruption and impunity effectively.
