The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has praised the Government of Liberia for joining the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) on May 21, 2025. This global multi-stakeholder partnership aims to enhance transparency and participation in the sustainable management of marine fisheries by implementing the FiTI Standard.
During a press conference on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, CENTAL Program Manager Gerald D. Yeakula stated that the FiTI Standard is a globally recognized framework that sets specific transparency requirements for countries managing marine fisheries.
Yeakula commended the government’s efforts, particularly through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), to promote a culture of transparency within the fisheries sector. “Liberia’s membership in this initiative is a significant step toward fostering an equitable, inclusive, and transparent fisheries sector. We have moved beyond the days when policies, frameworks, agreements, processes, and reports affecting the people and the state were shrouded in secrecy. Now is the time to cultivate and appreciate a culture of transparency across various government institutions and their services,” he remarked.
He also acknowledged NaFAA for maintaining an active website and an online portal for license applications. However, he expressed the hope that more information regarding fisheries agreements, revenue and expenditure reports, and other key sector data will be published.
Additionally, Yeakula urged the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to promptly investigate allegations of corruption. He noted that CENTAL has reviewed the recent quarterly report from the LACC, which indicates that investigations into payroll padding have been ongoing since October 14, 2024—nearly eight months ago. He expressed hope that these investigations will be concluded soon.
