Renowned Liberian Lawyer, Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe, has called on all Liberians to make a bold and decisive change to fight corruption. Speaking to a host of Liberians over the weekend, Cllr. Gongloe proposed dozens of legal reforms within the Liberian legal systems as a paradigm of ending corruption in the public sector and the country at large.
Delivering on the topic: “Strengthening Liberia’s governance: ending corruption through accountability and legal reforms” the Zondo Town, Logan Town Community, Cllr. Gongloe described corruption as Liberia’s most persistent and destructive challenge. The Liberian People’s Party Political Leader recommended that the truest path to ending corruption in Liberia is to make bold and decisive changes in the Liberian Constitution.
“One of the most critical steps we can take is to amend our constitution to remove the immunity currently granted to the President of Liberia in cases of corruption and murder. The highest office in the land must not be a shield to illegal activities but rather a beacon of integrity and accountability,” Cllr. Gongloe said.
Cllr. Gongloe uged Liberians to work together to amend the Constitution of Liberia, which will ensure that the President and all public officials are subject to the same laws as every other citizen.
He said presidential immunity should only protect the President of Liberia when performing lawful duties as intended by the framers of the constitution. He said the Government of Liberia should ensure that the country’s Criminal Procedures Laws are strengthened by removing the status of limitations for corruption offenses, and warned that corruption should not be an offense that fades with time, allowing perpetrators to escape justice.
“By making corruption prosecutable at any time, we send a clear message that no one, regardless of their position or the passage of time, is above the law. As we seek to chart a new course for Liberia, we can look to other African nations as examples- countries like Botswana, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Zambia and Seychelles,” he said.
Cllr. Gongloe said these countries have made significant strides in reducing corruption and fostering governments that truly serve the people, as their leaders’ lifestyles reflect humility, respect for the rule of law and a commitment to human rights.
Corruption in public service, he said, takes many forms and is a cancer that has long plagued Liberia, undermining the very foundation of the nation’s democracy, eroding public trust in institutions and stifling the progress Liberian people so desperately deserve.
“We must face a hard truth. The root of corruption often extends to the highest level of power. Historically, the illegal withdrawal of funds from our Central Bank, unauthorized spending by Ministers and Executive authorities, questionable procurement process and even the unexplained deaths of auditors and political opponents have all too often been traceable to the office of the President of Liberia. These actions are not just violations of the law, they are betrayal of the public trust,” he said.
On Friday, the Lincoln Peace Foundation through its Policy Advocacy Network held a day-long interactive Governance and Society dialogue under the theme: “Enriching the mind for a better society.” The dialogue brought together dozens of residents of District #15, Montserrado County, who after the dialogue pledged to engage in policy advocacy to hold their government accountable.
