spot_imgspot_img
Thursday, April 17, 2025

LIBERIANS GEAR FOR ELECTION IN WAKE OF LINGERING CORRUPTION

Date:

MONROVIA – As Liberia prepares for the run-off presidential elections scheduled for November 14, 2023, the issue of corruption continues to loom large in the minds of voters. They will be deciding whether to re-elect President George M. Weah, whose administration has faced allegations of massive corruption or to choose Amb. Joseph N. Boakai. Critics argue that President Weah has failed to effectively combat corruption, in terms of taking action against public officials found guilty of corrupt practices by the General Auditing Commission (GAC).

Opposition figures claim President Weah’s efforts to combat corruption have been unsuccessful during his nearly six-year tenure. Civil society organizations have also voiced concern, noting that the President’s actions appear deliberate, despite repeated calls to take the fight against corruption seriously. They argue that his weakness in addressing corruption has hindered the country’s development.

In the run-off election, President Weah, the standard bearer of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), will face off against Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai, the candidate representing the opposition Unity Party. Critics argue that President Weah should not be re-elected due to his failure to adequately address the issue of massive corruption within his administration.

Recently, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), one of Liberia’s integrity institutions, expressed concern about the lack of significant efforts to fight corruption in the Weah administration. CENTAL’s executive director, Mr. Anderson Miamen, highlighted the need for more action in addressing the culture of impunity and emphasized the importance of enforcing anti-corruption laws and policies.

Miamen also pointed out that, despite consistently passing the controlling corruption indicator, Liberia still struggles to robustly enforce anti-corruption laws and policies and to hold high-profile public officials accountable for corruption. The US government has imposed sanctions on Senator Prince Y. Johnson, Senator Varney Sherman, and other former senior public officials for significant corruption, yet they have not been investigated or prosecuted by the Liberian government. Additionally, multiple audit reports released by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) implicate several individuals but have not led to concrete actions.

CENTAL calls on the government to intensify its efforts in combating corruption and not become complacent due to its performance on paper. While Liberia has often passed the controlling corruption indicator, corruption continues to persist due to a lack of political will and poor implementation of laws. The organization urges the government to translate its anti-corruption measures into tangible results that improve the quality of life for the Liberian people.

CENTAL also emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and collaboration with development partners, civil society, the media, and other stakeholders to sustain and enhance the progress made in combating corruption. It calls on the government to address areas where it has fallen short, including regulatory quality, government effectiveness, girls’ primary education completion rate, education expenditure, natural resource protection, and child health.

Socrates Smythe Saywon
Socrates Smythe Saywon is a Liberian journalist. You can contact me at 0777425285 or 0886946925, or reach out via email at saywonsocrates@smartnewsliberia.com or saywonsocrates3@gmail.com.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON HOUSE LEADERSHIP CRISIS APRIL 23

MONROVIA – The Supreme Court of Liberia has scheduled...

DR. ENRIGHT CALLS FOR EARLY FORGIVENESS EDUCATION TO RENEW LIBERIAN COMMUNITIES

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Dr. Robert Enright, a professor of...

PRIEST’S RELEASE TRIGGERS CRITICISM AS ACTIVIST SLAMS LIBERIA’S JUSTICE SYSTEM

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Women’s rights advocate Hawa Metzger has...

A COMMENDABLE PLEDGE, BUT DEEDS MUST MATCH WORDS

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s address at the First Annual...

BOAKAI’S LUXURY OBSESSION AMID ECONOMIC STRUGGLES

Liberians continue to endure economic hardship while their president...

LIBERIA’S STRUGGLE FOR CHANGE CAN BOAKAI’S PROMISES OVERCOME DECADES OF UNFULFILLED REFORMS

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s message to his Cabinet during...

PRIORITIZING PRAGMATISM IN A RESOURCE-CONSTRAINED LIBERIA

In a country where the reality of fiscal scarcity...

COMMENTARY

WHY FOLLOW A PR STRATEGY TO OVERCOME CRISES AND MAINTAIN BRAND VISIBILITY

Courtesy of Martin Blayon, an experienced Public Relations Specialist Misinformation...

THE LASTING LEGACY OF PRINCE JOHNSON’S DEATH AND THE PATH FORWARD FOR LIBERIA

By Lyndon J. Ponnie, Sr. The passing of former Liberian...

PRES. BOAKAI’S LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND LIBERIA’S POLITICAL CRISIS

-A Commentary Joseph Boakai's failure to lead has once again...

LATEST NEWS

LIBERIA’S FINANCE MINISTER FACES IMMINENT DISMISSAL FOLLOWING US SANCTIONS

MONROVIA - In a dramatic turn of events, Liberia's...

JUDGE SMITH ALLEGES THREATS 

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Judge George Smith of the Sixth...

Share post:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

OPINION

USING THE PAST TO INFORM THE PRESENCE AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE

My birthday message to the people of Liberia As I...

HOR IN UPROAR AS EMBATTLED SPEAKER KOFFA’S INFLUENCE EXPOSES GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES

By Socrates Smythe Saywon, Sr. Liberia’s political scene is currently...

LIBERIANS ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UP AND CDC

  An Opinion By Grace RK Guar Every six...

AMERICA’S NEGLECT OF LIBERIA: A CALL FOR CHANGE

An Opinion By Bishop Dr. Rudolph Q. Kwanue, Sr A...

THE GALLERY

spot_imgspot_img

MORE ARTICLES

spot_imgspot_img

MORE NEWS

LATEST DEVELOPMENT NEWS

LATEST CRIME NEWS

Share via
Copy link