MONROVIA, LIBERIA – On April 17, 2024, Senator Amara Konneh and Speaker Fonati Koffa addressed attendees at the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) one-day Anti-corruption Policy Dialogue. Held at the Boulevard Palace in Monrovia, the event highlighted the urgent need for increased funding to bolster public integrity institutions in Liberia.
Both lawmakers emphasized the critical role these institutions play in combating corruption and ensuring accountability within the country. They advocated for increased funding to institutions such as the General Auditing Commission (GAC), Liberia Anti-corruption Commission (LACC), Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC), and the Internal Audit Agency (IAA).
“The Legislature is not the solution to our integrity problem, it is the problem,” Senator Konneh stated during his address. He further voiced his support for the push by Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and President Pro Tempore Nyomblee Karnga-Lawrence for a transparent Legislative budget and financial system to account for public expenditures.
In a startling revelation, it was revealed that in 2023, under the administration of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led by President George M. Weah, $90 million passed through the legislature, surpassing the approved budget by $30 million. This places Liberia as an outlier in per capita legislative spending compared to middle-income and low-income economies. Senator Konneh emphasized that genuine accountability and transparency must begin with the Legislature.
While House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa pledged to bolster government backing for integrity institutions in Liberia.
Speaker Koffa not only promised increased government support but also advocated for a comprehensive revenue audit to ensure transparency in financial matters.
The one-day Anti-corruption Policy Dialogue, organized by CENTAL with funding from the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the national budget as a tool for anti-corruption efforts and reforms. The event was held under the theme “Increasing Funding to Anti-corruption Efforts: Benefits and Recommended Actions.”
The dialogue brought together stakeholders, policymakers, and civil society representatives to discuss and strategize on ways to strengthen Liberia’s anti-corruption framework through increased funding and reforms. The call for enhanced funding to anti-corruption institutions resonated strongly throughout the event, highlighting the collective commitment to combatting corruption and promoting transparency in Liberia.
