Monrovia-Liberia, Wednesday, September 18, 2024 – Local Judicial officials from Bong, Nimba, Margibi and Lofa Counties have lauded the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and partners for their farsightedness in reaching out to the Judiciary.
The officials, mainly Judges, Sheriffs, Magistrates, Clerks, and Bailiffs of the Courts, were part of a just ended training in Bong County, aimed at promoting social accountability in the governance system and public service delivery.
At the closing ceremony in Gbarnga over the weekend, the participants, also including representatives of civil society and Integrity Institutions, expressed deep support and cooperation with the LACC as they endeavor to fight against corruption.
Female Participant speaking at the workshop closing
A male participant, representing the Courts
They believe, the decision by the LACC to move into the counties was spot on and will go a long way in decentralizing the fight against corruption and the promotion of accountability and transparency in both the public space and the society at large.
LACC Executive Vice Chairperson, Ernest Hughes, was on hand to address the participants, outlining the importance of brining the judges and other judicial actors together in such a hugely significant training.
Vice Chair, Ernest Hughes
Mr. Hughes thanked the participants for the expressed commitment to the anti-corruption campaign, urging them to use knowledge acquired and be Ambassadors of transparency and accountability at their work places and communities. The LACC principal Vice Chairman then thanked the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), for its continuous support to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission.
The training is part of a series of programs and outreach activities being sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), through funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. UNDP Deputy Country Representative, Louis Kuukpen, at the closing exercise, reaffirmed his organization’s commitment towards supporting the anti-corruption initiatives of the LACC.
Mr. Louis Kuukpen of UNDP
Mr. Kuukpen highlighted the importance of the anti-corruption fight in Liberia, stating that a society that is free of corruption, stands a chance to achieve better education, healthcare, and security for their citizens.
The three-day workshop in Gbarnga, Bong County, saw relevant stakeholders being educated on the concept of corruption and existing legal frameworks, in a bid to foster an inclusive citizen participation, and promote transparency and accountability within their communities.
The Judiciary plays a very important role in the fight against corruption, as all corruption investigations and cases end on the courts’ ducket for adjudication. Hence, the choice of participants for the workshop has been hailed by local officials, drawn from the four Counties under consideration.
The activities in Gbarnga were climaxed on Saturday, September 14, with outreach and community engagements. During the engagements, officials of LACC and partners, UNDP interacted with Gbarnga residents and distributed flyers containing anti-corruption messages. The goal of the street engagements was to increase visibility to ensure anti-corruption messages reach the larger population.
The training of Judicial workers, civil society groups and integrity institutions in Gbarnga, is part of a project, titled ‘Empowering Citizens and Communities to Foster Social Accountability and Transparency in Governance and Public Service Delivery’. It is themed ‘Enhancing Justice and Transparency and Building Integrity through Collaborative Governance.
