By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – With more than 100 reported corruption cases languishing without meaningful prosecutorial action, the Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), Anderson D. Miamen, has urged lawmakers to fast-track legislation establishing a National Anti-Corruption Court, arguing that the specialized tribunal is essential to ending the country’s culture of impunity and strengthening accountability in public service.
Appearing on Friday, June 26, 2026, before a Joint Committee of the National Legislature, Miamen told lawmakers that Liberia’s existing justice system has struggled to effectively prosecute corruption cases, allowing numerous allegations involving public officials to remain unresolved for years. His appearance formed part of an extensive legislative consultation with civil society organizations, governance advocates, and other stakeholders on proposed bills seeking to establish both a National Anti-Corruption Court and a War and Economic Crimes Court.
Addressing members of the Joint Committee, Miamen stressed that the passage of both bills should be treated as a national priority, emphasizing that the specialized courts would help reduce the backlog of cases, accelerate prosecutions, and reinforce public confidence in Liberia’s justice system.
According to Miamen, CENTAL’s Corruption Case Tracker currently contains more than 100 allegations of corruption, many of which have seen little or no meaningful prosecutorial progress despite attracting significant public attention.
“The Anti-Corruption Court is necessary to fast-track these cases and ensure that corruption allegations are prosecuted more efficiently,” Miamen emphasized, warning that continued delays only deepen public frustration and reinforce the perception that powerful individuals remain beyond the reach of the law.
His presentation generated discussions among lawmakers, who sought expert opinions on several provisions contained in the proposed legislation. Among those participating in the engagement were Senators Augustine Chea of Sinoe County and Albert T. Chie of Grand Kru County, as well as Representatives Nyahn G. Flomo of Nimba County, Emmanuel Yarh of Margibi County, and Johnson S. N. Williams of River Gee County.
Miamen’s appeal comes as President Joseph Nyuma Boakai intensifies his administration’s drive to strengthen judicial accountability after formally transmitting two landmark bills to House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon and Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence for legislative consideration and possible enactment.
The first proposed legislation seeks to establish a War and Economic Crimes Court to prosecute allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, gross human rights violations, and economic crimes committed during Liberia’s civil conflicts, consistent with recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and commitments made under the Accra Peace Agreement.
The second bill calls for the establishment of a specialized National Anti-Corruption Court dedicated to handling corruption-related offenses with greater speed and efficiency, a move the Executive Mansion says is intended to strengthen accountability, improve transparency across public institutions, and reinforce the rule of law.
President Boakai described the two bills as major reforms designed to confront Liberia’s legacy of impunity, promote national reconciliation, address historical injustices, and restore public confidence in democratic governance. He urged lawmakers to give both measures urgent consideration, describing them as critical to the country’s national interest and long-term democratic renewal.
While there appears to be growing support for the creation of a National Anti-Corruption Court, lawmakers are also confronting constitutional questions surrounding aspects of the proposed legal framework.
Montserrado County District 14 Representative Muka Kamara has formally called on the House of Representatives to review provisions relating to the presumption of innocence, arguing that Section 5 of Title 17(a) of the Revised Liberian Code of Laws could conflict with protections guaranteed under Liberia’s 1986 Constitution.
In a communication submitted to the House, Kamara maintained that the disputed provision appears to shift the burden of proof from prosecutors to accused persons, an interpretation he believes undermines Article 21(h) of the Constitution, which guarantees that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and cannot be compelled to provide evidence against himself or herself.
He further reminded lawmakers that Article 2 of the Constitution establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic, rendering null and void any legislation that is inconsistent with its provisions.
Kamara’s communication prompted debate among members of the House, with several legislators acknowledging the constitutional concerns while noting that the proposed Anti-Corruption Court legislation was not formally before Plenary for amendment or repeal, making immediate legislative action procedurally difficult.
Although no decision was reached, lawmakers agreed that any legislation establishing a National Anti-Corruption Court must strike a careful balance between strengthening Liberia’s anti-corruption regime and safeguarding the constitutional rights of every accused person.
The ongoing legislative consultations, combined with President Boakai’s push for judicial reforms, CENTAL’s renewed call for swift action, and the constitutional concerns raised by Representative Kamara, place the proposed National Anti-Corruption Court at the center of one of Liberia’s most consequential governance debates. As lawmakers continue deliberations, the outcome is expected to shape the country’s anti-corruption architecture and determine whether Liberia can more effectively prosecute corruption while preserving the constitutional guarantees that underpin its justice system.
