-Anti–Corruption Campaigners Urge Liberians
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The Anti-Corruption Campaigners, a local network operating in Liberia, have called on Liberians to reject the political bids of US-sanctioned Nathaniel F. McGill and Bill Twehway as they campaign against the recent wave of corruption in Liberian society.
As part of their fight against corruption, the Anti-Corruption Campaigners announced July 19, 2023, as Anti-Corruption Day in an effort to call on the government through the GAC and LACC to investigate the allegations of the US against the various ex-officials from both Sirleaf’s government and the current administration.
The anti-corruption Campaigners lamented that they are deeply concerned about the rise in the rate of corruption and impunity within Liberian society.
They further asserted that as Liberia turns 176 years old on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, the issue of corruption remains a major concern and problem that has yet to be resolved or has received little or no effort in combating it.
The ACC provided that the report from Transparency International and The Center of Transparency and Accountability (CENTAL) provides that Liberia is ranked at the top of countries that are yet to make significant progress in the fight against corruption.
According to them, in the report released on February 3, 2023, Liberia scored a total of 26 out of 100 and ranked 142 out of 180. Adding that this ranking means that Liberia has joined the list of countries that have significantly declined on the index while being placed among the worst-declining countries globally,
“The report speaks to the Liberian Government’s inability to address the entrenched culture of impunity by not adequately funding public integrity institutions, not fully enforcing existing anti-corruption laws and policies, and not investigating properly to take drastic actions against officials accused of corruption.” the report stated.
The ACC argued that the Weah administration is refusing to take a stand against corrupt officials of his government but is rewarding them with all forms of protection.
Moreover, the anti-corruption campaigners recorded that since the sanctions against three top government officials of the Weah’s government, there has been no concrete action taken on the part of the Weah’s administration to investigate those officials. But we have seen Weah’s CDC give the likes of Nathaniel McGill and Bill Trawalah the privilege of Contesting on the ticket of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) as candidates for the Senate.
The Anti-Corruption Campaigners in their report asserted the high wave of corruption and impunity within the country, leaving almost every sector of Liberia damaged and unimproved. but the government is less concerned about these happenings.
The ACC continued by stating that no Individual should be given the opportunity to run for public office while they have corruption allegations libeled against them.
“We, the Anti-Corruption Campaigners, believe in the fight for a clean system and a corruption-free government. No Individual should be given the opportunity to run for public office while they have corruption allegations libeled against them. We also call on the Weah administration, through the GAC and LACC, to conduct an investigation on the above-listed individuals.”
In furtherance, they asserted that if Liberia must change for the better, there should be a set standard for people vying for public office to be corruption-free and have a reputable character to lead the change we need in Liberia.
At the same time, the Anti-Corruption campaigners call on the Liberian people and every civil society organization to join the Anti-Corruption rally to be launched on July 19, 2023.
They stated that the rally is to send a strong message across the country that there’s a need to fight against corruption because the majority of the Liberian people are living in very deplorable conditions.
“We believe it will raise consciousness in the Liberian people to join the fight against corruption and impunity within Liberian society. This rally is also a message to the ECOWAS, UN, and other international organizations for their support towards ensuring a transparent election and accountability from the NEC and the government of Liberia to produce credible results from the coming October 10 election. The future of Liberia is at stake, and we all have a meaningful role to play in saving the nation’s future.”
