MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Exiled Liberian activist Martin K. N. Kollie is intensifying his call for judicial reforms, urging President Joseph Boakai to establish a specialized anti-corruption court to tackle rising allegations of graft and economic crimes. In a public memo issued on March 8, 2025, Kollie argues that Liberia’s existing legal framework is insufficient to address the scale of corruption and impunity plaguing the nation.
Kollie’s memo, addressed to the Liberian people, outlines the country’s complex judicial structure while highlighting the urgent need for specialized legal bodies to handle corruption and war crimes. According to Kollie, the absence of a dedicated anti-corruption court has allowed public officials accused of embezzlement and other financial misconduct to evade justice through bureaucratic loopholes and prolonged legal proceedings.
He emphasizes that public trust in Liberia’s justice system is eroding due to the slow pace of high-profile corruption investigations and the lack of meaningful convictions. “Impunity is an incentive for injustice and anarchy,” Kollie warns, arguing that without decisive legal mechanisms, public officials will continue to misuse state resources with little fear of accountability.
Beyond corruption, Kollie renews his demand for the creation of a War Crimes Court to prosecute those responsible for atrocities committed during Liberia’s civil wars. Despite years of advocacy from both domestic and international human rights groups, successive governments have failed to act on establishing such a court. Kollie insists that justice for war victims is long overdue and criticizes the Boakai administration’s silence on the matter.
Kollie’s memo also serves as a practical guide for ordinary citizens navigating the legal system. He provides a detailed breakdown of the country’s court structure, from the Supreme Court to various Circuit and Specialized Courts, outlining which cases fall under each jurisdiction. While this information is intended to empower citizens seeking justice, Kollie’s deeper message is a damning critique of the inefficiency and inaccessibility of Liberia’s legal institutions.
According to Kollie, the existing judicial system is overwhelmed and lacks the specialized capacity to address complex financial crimes and human rights violations. He argues that an anti-corruption court, modeled after similar bodies in other countries, would streamline the prosecution of economic crimes and serve as a deterrent to corrupt practices.
He also expresses concern that Liberia’s courts are often influenced by political interference, undermining their ability to dispense impartial justice. Kollie urges the judiciary to maintain independence and calls on judges and justices to resist external pressure from the executive branch and political elites.
As public frustration over corruption and weak governance grows, Kollie’s call for judicial reforms resonates with many Liberians demanding transparency and accountability. Civil society organizations, including human rights activists, have echoed his demands, arguing that specialized legal mechanisms are essential for restoring public confidence in the justice system.
Kollie’s memo concludes with a stark warning to the Boakai administration. Failure to establish both an anti-corruption court and a War Crimes Court, he argues, will further entrench a culture of impunity and could destabilize the nation. “The foundation of peace and stability in Liberia rests on justice and the rule of law,” Kollie asserts, framing his proposals as crucial to safeguarding the country’s democratic future.
