Monrovia, Thursday, March 25, 2021 -The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), through its youth engagement and Integrity Club (iClub) Program, has concluded a one-day intensive training for over forty (40) university students.  The training seeks to increase the students’ knowledge and understanding of pertinent issues related to the fight against corruption and integrity building, especially in Liberia; and sets the basis for those trained to engage in outreach activities in their respective universities, high schools, and communities.  The students were recruited from the University of Liberia (UL), United Methodist University (UMU), African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), and the Stella Maris Polytechnic University (SMPU). 

Speaking at the opening of the one-day training workshop in Monrovia, CENTAL’s Executive Director Anderson D. Miamen told the students to brace themselves for the task of engaging their peers and community members through awareness-raising about corruption, integrity building, and other related issues in the country.  Director Miamen said, over the years, the fight against corruption did not considerably take into account the direct involvement of students and youths to engage their peers and community members about corruption and its manifestations in schools, public and private sectors, communities, and homes, but has been skewed mainly towards high-level efforts such as prosecution, enactment of laws, amongst others.  He indicated that the I-Club presents an opportunity for young people to get actively involved in the fight against corruption and contribute to positive change.

The CENTAL boss told the participating students to take advantage of the training and use it as a means of networking and building relationships that can be leveraged to enhance anti-corruption and integrity building efforts in Liberia. He pledged CENTAL’s fullest commitment to the fight against corruption and support to the work of the IClubs and their members who will be agents of positive change in their respective universities, communities, and the society at large.

Speaking earlier, the Dean of Student Services at AMEU, Mr. Abraham Bility said the involvement of university students in the fight against corruption and integrity building efforts now sets the stage to accelerate the discourse to another level. Dean Bility said the concept of integrity building at the university, high schools, and community levels will prepare the country for an inclusive anti-corruption effort. “This country needs you more than you need it. Beware that, as volunteers of your respective IClubs, you will be challenged by friends.  Even faculties will despise you, but remain focused,” Dean Bility said. He lauded CENTAL for the initiative and pledged AMEU’s fullest support to the work of the IClub at the university and beyond. 

The training covered various topics, including: “The role of Integrity in creating an enabling environment for youth empowerment and development in Liberia,” presented by Mamuna Kamara Waydon, Senior Policy Analyst at the Governance Commission (GC); “Understanding Corruption: Its Ramifications and Effects, Causes and Remedies,” presented by Zobon A. Kolenky, Head of Asset Declaration and Verification at the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC); “Corruption trends in Gender and Corruption: Key Manifestations, Challenges and way forward with Women and Marginalized group in focus,” presented  by Madam Akiah Precious Glay, Gender Officer at CENTAL; and “Investigation and Evidence Gathering in the Fight Against Corruption: Key Issues, Challenges, and Recommendations,” facilitated by Mr. Baba Boakai, Director for Enforcement at the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC); “Awareness, Advocacy, and Communication strategies in the fight against Corruption,” presented by Anderson D. Miamen, Executive Director of CENTAL, among others.

Held at the Corina Hotel in Monrovia, the training workshop was held under the auspices of the National Integrity Building and Anti-Corruption (NIBA) program funded by the Government and People of Sweden through the Embassy of Sweden near Monrovia and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) now sets the basis for the students to begin raising awareness about corruption and integrity building at their respective universities, high schools, and communities.

Thursday, March 04, 2021 - The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) expresses grave concern over recent allegations of corruption involving the Vice-Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala and Executive Director, Mohammed E. Fahnbulleh. Such allegations are extremely troubling and damaging to the image of an institution of Government leading the fight against the cancer of corruption in Liberia.

If the LACC must maintain its credibility as an entity of Government mandated to investigate and prosecute acts of corruption, as well as educate the public about the ills of corruption and the benefits of its eradication, the Commission and the Government of Liberia must do everything to ensure that the allegations are timely investigated to establish the truthfulness or falsity of the matter.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, upon learning of the LACC corruption saga, CENTAL reached out to the Commission to inquire about claims and counterclaims raised by the parties including, but not limited to, unlawful salary payments, unaccountability of cash advances received, purchase of Government property, amongst others.

Also, we reached out to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to get clarity on the date and other facts regarding the resignation of Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala, who is alleged to have been within their employ while simultaneously being paid by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Corruption, during the latter part of 2019. We wish to inform the public that we have received positive feedback from these institutions. Both the LACC and UNDP have launched separate investigations to establish the facts, which we hope will be timely communicated to the public.

However, while we welcome the LACC’s internal investigation, we strongly believe that such grave allegations involving senior officials of the Commission cannot be left to the institution alone to investigate.

Therefore, we call on President George Manneh Weah to constitute an independent committee to timely investigate the matter and inform the public about its outcomes. If not timely and properly investigated and the recommendations fully implemented, these allegations may detract from the goodwill anti-corruption institutions have received from the public over the years, including dampening public confidence in the country’s leading anti-corruption institution.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the Press, fellow Liberians, in the wake of the resignation of its former chairperson, Cllr. Ndubuisi Nwabudike, currently, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission has an all-male Board of Commissioners, thus falling short of the gender sensitivity provided for in section six (6) of the LACC Act. With all three (3) Commissioners being males, the need for ensuring gender mainstreaming at the highest level of the Commission cannot be overly emphasized.

Also, given that the LACC has been in the media for all the wrong reasons lately, especially claims and counterclaims about the citizenship and credibility of the immediate past chairperson and allegations of corruption involving its vice-chairperson, in the spirit of collaboration and partnership, as provided for in section 6.2 of the LACC Act, CENTAL urges President George Manneh Weah to widely consult with critical stakeholders (civil society and development partners) in making new nominations at the LACC.

And that qualified females should be strongly considered in such appointments to avoid an all-male and gender-biased Board of Commissioners, in violation of section 6.3 of the 2008 LACC Act. In part, the above will help to increase public confidence in and support for the leadership and work of the Commission. Also, they will somehow satisfy minimum requirements for making key appointments at anti-corruption and integrity institutions whose leaderships and key staff must be independent as well as enjoy the full confidence and support of the public.

To conclude, CENTAL reassures the public of her commitment to the fight against corruption and call on citizens to remain constructively engaged in demanding for and taking actions against corruption in Liberia. Also, we reiterate the call for a sincere, genuine, and impartial fight against corruption in the country.

                                                                                                           Press Statement for Immediate Release

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

 Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) expresses delight over the Supreme Court ruling affirming the judgment of the First Judicial Circuit Court Criminal Assizes “C” in the case Republic of Liberia v. J. Brownie Samukai et al, holding the Defendants guilty of the crimes of Theft of Property, Criminal Conspiracy, and Misuse of Public Money in respect of funds contributed by men and women of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) towards the AFL Pension Fund.

Members of the Press, fellow citizens, one and all, while we hold that the Court missed an opportunity to call corruption by its name, we are however optimistic about the decision of the Court for the following reasons:

• The Court’s unambiguous exposition of key corruption issues, including its reference to “integrity” and the “universal principle of accountability”. We believe that the Court’s acknowledgment and elaboration of these concepts represent a significant step in mainstreaming the fight against corruption at the highest levels of society as well as entrenching integrity values.

• The Court’s admonition that public officials “must have legal reliance and a legal basis” for the fulfillment of both their “statutory responsibilities as laid down by statute” and their “special duties as commanded by the head of state/president”. Expanding on this point, the Court explained that a public official is required to perform and implement the commander-in-chief/President’s orders with public funds as budgeted by the government in accordance with the government budget process. We are of the opinion that this position by the Court presents a teaching moment to public officials who go to any lengths to endear themselves to the Presidency or any authorized individuals at the expense of our laws and public interest. We further agree with the Court that a Minister or Public Official receiving Presidential orders, whose obedience requires violation of an existing policy or law, has a duty to advise the President or cause the Minister of Justice to advise the President and “that if the President insists on the implementation of the illegal order, the Minister has the option to disobey the President and honorably resign his position with integrity.” While the ruling of the Court references the presidency due to the facts presented by the case under review, we strongly believe that it applies to other public officials and individuals taking instructions from their superiors. This, we believe, sends a very clear message that the utmost duty of public service is the state and its people and not the power-that-be.

We applaud the Court for its decision and further urge it to decide corruption cases with an even higher speed. Appeals to the Supreme Court has long been used to stifle justice, especially in corruption-related cases. The Court must therefore exert all efforts to ensure that cases are speedily determined according to the due process of law, ensuring that the rights of all accused persons are respected and protected.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, we would like to use this opportunity to also call on President George M. Weah to timely appoint the Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, the government entity leading the fight against corruption in the country. We call for broad-based consultation with civil society, development partners, and other critical stakeholders in processes leading to the recruitment of the next LACC chairperson and officials of other public integrity institutions, including but not limited to the New Auditor General (AG) of the Republic of Liberia. Increased stakeholders’ confidence in those appointed or recruited to key positions of public trust, especially at anti-corruption and integrity institutions is essential to receiving the required moral and financial support as well as cooperation to effectively and efficiently perform.

To conclude, we reiterate our commitment to supporting the fight against corruption in Liberia and overall national integrity building efforts. Also, we call for strong collaboration and partnership between government and other stakeholders, especially ordinary citizens with critical roles in denouncing corruption, demanding accountability from their leaders, as well as providing moral support to public integrity institutions and other key anti-corruption actors.

Thanks.

Management

 

Phone: +231886474563/0770175162

 The Board of Directors of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has appointed Madam Sara Beysolow Nyanti, former UNICEF Resident Representative to the Republic of Yemen, as member. 

In her letter of interest addressed to the Board of Directors of CENTAL in August 2020, Madam Nyanti congratulated the Board for work being done to increase accountability and transparency in governance and collaboration with stakeholders in fighting against corruption in the country. 

“This is fundamental to good governance and ensuring the fulfillment of the rights of the people of Liberia. As a leader within the United Nations System who has pioneered groundbreaking work in strengthening risk management and fiduciary systems in the worst humanitarian situation in the world in Yemen, I relate very well with the task at hand for the Board Members of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL),” she said in the communication. 

Madam Nyanti, second from right, was recently posted to Yemen as  the Resident Representative of UNICEF.

 Madam Nyanti who currently serves as UNICEF resident coordinator in the Republic of Nepal noted that, having contributed to the strengthening of systems for accountability and transparency around the world, she would like the opportunity to do the same here in Liberia through CENTAL. “With that, I herein express my interest in joining you to continue the great work that you all have been doing. I know that the global perspectives will add value to what you are doing; and take us further down the path of realizing the mission of CENTAL,” the high-ranking female UN Official stated.

Madam Sara Beysolow Nyanti holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and is a Globally accredited Partnership Broker with the Partnership Broker Association, UK. She is the highest ranking Liberian in the United Nations since 2019 with a grade of D2. 

Madam Nyanti served in the following capacities over the last 20 years: UNICEF Resident Representative to the Republic of Yemen, February 2019 to July 31, 2020; UNICEF/World Bank Team Leader, Emergency Cash Transfer for 9million Yemenis, 2017 –2019; UNICEF Resident Representative to the Islamic Republic of The Gambia, 2015 –2017; UNICEF Head of Office in Lagos, Nigeria, 2010 – 2015; UNICEF HIV/AIDS Advisor to the Representative in Namibia, Kenya, 2009 – 2010; UNICEF Chief of HIV/AIDS Section in Nepal, 2007 – 2009; UNDP International Program Manager, Nepal, 2005 – 2006; UNDP Program Analyst/Global Fund Program Manager in Liberia, 2003 – 2005 and Government of Liberia, Director, National AIDS Control Program, 1999 – 2003. 

Established in 2004, CENTAL is a membership-based civil society organization that fights corruption and promotes integrity in public and private life through programs that target positive change in attitudes, behavior, and practices. It is the national chapter of Transparency International, the global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption.

CENTAL Ends Strategic Planning Retreat

The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has completed a two-day retreat aimed at reviewing the successes and challenges experienced by the Organization in 2020 and to strategically plan for the improvement of its overall performance in the New Year. Held at the Tropicana Beach and Resort from January 7 to 8, the event was intended to reflect on and review lessons learned from 2020; enhance staffs’ capacity in project design and implementation; increase internal coordination, information sharing and collaboration; as well as to equip staffs with the needed document and tools for timely reporting.

During closing ceremonies, staffs of the Organization were lauded for their commitment to serve their country through CENTAL over the years and encouraged to work even harder for the building of integrity and the promotion of transparency and accountability across all sectors of the country. CENTAL Board Chairman, Cllr. T. Negbalee Warner, said the retreat was necessary to allow the Organization plan properly to effectively and efficiently execute the task of fighting corruption and bad governance in Liberia. 

Cllr. Warner stated that continuous capacity building remains very critical to the survival as well as enhancement of productivity, efficiency and growth of the Organization. He said making Liberia better and a corruption free nation requires the honest effort of everyone including staffs of CENTAL who have signed off to a pledge of fighting the menace of corruption and to build a culture of transparency and accountability in Liberia. 

Cllr. Warner , who is also Dean of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia, lauded the Management of CENTAL through its Executive Director, Anderson D. Miamen for the exceptional leadership role in leading the Organization in the right trajectory over the years.   

For his part, Director Miamen lauded the staff for the level of commitment and dedication shown over time as well as their expressed willingness to always acquire new skills for the improvement of their individual capacity as well as the operational capacity of the Organization.   

He told staffs to return to their respective places of assignment with renewed dynamism and further commitment to achieving the organization’s targets for 2021.  Also speaking, the Program Manager of CENTAL, Gerald D. Yeakula thanked the County Field Officers (CFOs) for attending the retreat despite short notice. He said that the participation of the CFOs is a demonstration of their commitment to the organization and rallied them to remain diligent in the performance of their duties.

The retreat brought together CENTAL’s central office staffs and CFOs from seven counties: Montserrado, Bong, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Gbarpolu and Bomi. The retreat was held under the theme: “Reflecting and Planning for Greater Impact.” With funding from the Government and people of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (SIDA), CENTAL is currently implementing a three-year National Integrity Building and Anti-Corruption (NIBA) Program in seven counties: Montserrado, Bong, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Gbarpolu and Bomi. 

Press Statement for Immediate Release

Thursday, December 10, 2020 

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, in our press release issued on yesterday, Wednesday, December 9, in commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD 2020), we reiterated our commitment to thefight against corruption in Liberiaand urged the Government of Liberia to show concrete commitment to the fight by providing adequate moral, financial, and logistical support to public integrity institutions and ensuring timely and impartial prosecution of those accused of corruption.

On the heels of this pronouncement, however, a damning report was issued by the United States Department of Treasury, designating perpetrators of corruption and serious human rights abuses, especially in Liberia. Grand Cape Mount County Senator, Cllr. H. Varney G. Sherman, was listed as a government official being either responsible for or complicit in, or directly or indirectly engaged in corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery. Particularly, the report states that Senator Sherman offered bribes to multiple judges associated with his trial for the 2010 Sable Mining bribery scheme, and that he had an undisclosed conflict of interest with the judge who ultimately returned a not guilty verdict in July 2019. It is further asserted that the Senator routinely paid judges to decide cases in his favor, and allegedly facilitated payments to Liberian politicians to support impeachment of a judge who has ruled against him.  As a consequence of this designation, Cllr. Sherman has been sanctioned with implications to property interests and transactions in the United States. 

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, this report comes only three (3) months after the United States Department of State publicly designated Mr. Andrew Wonplo, former Director of Passport and Visas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for involvement in significant corruption. According to the Department of State, in his official capacity at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2019, Mr. Wonplo was involved in passport fraud that undermined the rule of law, reduced the Liberian public’s faith in their government’s management of identification and travel documents, and compromised the integrity and security of immigration processes.

Taken together, a strange parallel can be drawn from the Sherman-Wonplo scenario. Both men had been arrested on corruption-related charges and processed through our justice system. Sherman’s case was dismissed because, according the Judge, the prosecution did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt as stated in the indictment, and that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were nothing but “hearsay”.[1]Wonplo’s case, however, was dismissed due to failure by the prosecution team at the Ministry of Justice to prosecute the matter.[2]In spite of these happenings, nonetheless, the United States government continues to raise red flags concerning acts of corruption in Liberia and the vulnerabilities of our justice system.

We welcome the actions of the United States as a step in the right direction, as it has the proclivity to move state actors to take concrete actions against corruption, including but not limited to increasing public awareness of the dangers of corruption, strengthening legal frameworks (laws, policies, and institutions) to fight against it as well as timely and impartial prosecution of accused corrupt individuals. For instance, a new indictment was issued for Mr. Andrew Wonplo following the action of the U.S. Government. While we believe that such knee-jerk reactions by the Liberian government does little to demonstrate sincerity in the fight against corruption, we are convinced that recent measures by the U.S. Government and other partners are doing well to send a very strong message and deterrent to those occupying positions of trust and responsibility, especially those manning our justice system.

Furthermore, We call on the Government of Liberia, especially the Judiciary, to investigate reported payment and receipt of bribe by Judges in the case involving Cllr. Varney Sherman. Such grave report and allegation should not be taken lightly by the administration, in the wake of appropriate initial actions by our partners. Such reported judicial corruption, especially in the Sable Mining Case, undermine its enviable position of independence, fairness, and upholding of the rule of law. These actions also violate the Judicial canons and the code of moral and professional ethics of lawyers. Also, we call on the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to investigate reports of corruption and bribery involving Cllr. Sherman and members of the national Legislature in respect of the impeachment of Justice Kabina J’aneh. 

Finally, we reiterate call for increased moral and financial support to public integrity institutions to enable them independently and effectively operate. Also, we call for increased citizens’ engagement with the fight corruption in the country as well as the independent civil society and the media that are critical players. 

Thanks.

Signed: Management

[1]https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/liberia-sable-mining-indictees-acquitted-of-bribery-allegations/

[2]https://newspublictrust.com/liberias-former-passport-director-cleared-of-criminal-charges/