Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), has called for the establishment of a dedicated Anti-Corruption Court to expedite the handling of corruption-related cases. She made the appeal during a panel discussion at the NAYMOTE-Liberia Summit for Democracy and Political Accountability on March 5, 2025.
Addressing participants at the event, Cllr. Zoe argued that the current reliance on Criminal Court C significantly slows down corruption cases because the court also handles other civil and criminal matters. She stressed that a specialized Anti-Corruption Court would streamline proceedings, ensuring that cases involving public officials and financial misconduct are addressed swiftly.
According to her, the backlog of cases at Criminal Court C poses a major challenge to the Commission’s work. She emphasized that delays in adjudicating corruption cases undermine public trust and hinder the LACC’s ability to enforce accountability. Establishing a court exclusively focused on corruption, she noted, would strengthen the Commission’s ability to pursue justice and recover misappropriated public funds.
During her remarks, Cllr. Zoe highlighted the LACC’s broader mission to investigate and prosecute corruption while educating the public on its harmful effects. She also spoke about the Commission’s asset recovery efforts, explaining that funds retrieved through legal action are returned to the government for public benefit.
The panel discussion featured several prominent officials, including Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan II, General Auditing Commission Auditor General P. Garswa Jackson, and CENTAL Executive Director Anderson D. Miamen. The session was moderated by Cllr. Boakai Kanneh, Chairman of the Law Reform Commission.
Cllr. Zoe further outlined the LACC’s recent initiatives to expand its presence across Liberia. She mentioned visits to Bong and Nimba counties and revealed plans to extend operations to Bomi County. The LACC, she said, is also working on modernizing the asset declaration process by introducing a digital platform that will allow officials to submit their declarations remotely.
In his opening statement, Finance Minister Ngafuan underscored the importance of strengthening integrity institutions like the LACC. He described their work as essential to promoting transparency, curbing corruption, and ensuring that public resources are used responsibly.
