The Registrar General for Cooperative Development Agency (CDA), Madam Lwopu G. Kandakai has stressed the importance of accountability and proper auditing aimed at combating corruption at the entity.
Speaking over the weekend at the official presentation of an audit report conducted by the CDA to Conservation International (CI), for two fishery Cooperatives in Rivercess County, Madam Kandakai said until Liberians can put aside self-interest, things will always remain the same in the country.
She disclosed that cooperative societies will be accountable for monies given them and urged cooperative societies to be very honest in managing funds they received from government and development partners.
Kandakai narrated that her leadership will monitor all Cooperative Societies throughout the country.
The new CDA Boss pointed out challenges in Rivercess County and called for decisive actions to uphold integrity within the Cooperative Movement in Liberia.
“We will have to make sure to sensitize the people enough through cooperative awareness including drama; flyers and jingles because development greatest enemy is corruption. We have to jump over corruption, if this culture of corruption doesn’t change, it is going to force us to that level of getting it changed and what we have for it as a medicine, is audit,” she said.
She disclosed that over two hundred beneficiaries have received financial support from Conservation International in 2022-2023 from the Blue Oceans Program to empower fishmongers and women in Cooperative Societies.
She noted that Unity First Fishery Cooperative Society and Fanti Fish Folks, Cestos City, with joint membership of 148, received US43,300.29, while, Help Yourself Fishery Cooperative Society, Timo Kru, Rivercess County with membership of 53, received US$23,638.45 which said money is intended to rotate among members of the Cooperative Societies.
Madam Kandakai thanked Conservation International for their tireless support to Cooperative Societies in Liberia through the Blue Oceans Program.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of Conservation International, the Program Director, Mike Kava thanked the Government of Liberia for its collaboration since the beginning of the program in nine coastal counties in Liberia.
He said the goal of the Blue Oceans Program is to provide sustainable management of Liberia’s coastal counties and marine ecosystem through conservation and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystem services to alleviate poverty, protect biodiversity, and mitigate and adapt to climate change.
