The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP), in partnership with the Liberia Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), has successfully wrapped up a series of Asset Recovery Awareness Town Hall meetings held across four counties in Liberia. The final town hall session took place over the weekend in Logan Town, Montserrado County, bringing the civic engagement initiative to a close.
Before the final event in Logan Town, similar meetings were held in Ganta, Nimba County; Gbarnga, Bong County; and Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. These town halls served as key platforms for educating local communities on the importance of asset recovery in combating corruption, the legal tools available for reclaiming misappropriated public funds, and how citizens can actively participate in the recovery process.
The town hall meetings were further amplified through targeted radio talk shows broadcast on popular local stations, including Cape FM, Radio Gbarnga, Ableejay Radio, and Radio Kehngamah. These radio broadcasts helped spread the message of transparency and accountability, ensuring that even rural and underserved populations were informed about their role in asset recovery efforts.
Malcolm Joseph, Executive Director of CEMESP, stressed the significance of public involvement in the asset recovery process. “This campaign is not just about reclaiming what has been taken from the Liberian people, but also about rebuilding trust in public institutions,” Joseph stated. “Our citizens must recognize that asset recovery is both a legal and civic responsibility.”
Joseph Daniels, Communication and Media Officer of AREPT, also highlighted the positive reception from the public and provided practical advice on how citizens can report suspected cases of stolen public assets. Daniels further emphasized the legal protections available to whistleblowers, encouraging citizens to participate without fear of retaliation.
This initiative forms part of a larger anti-corruption project led by CEMESP, with funding support from the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). The project’s goal is to raise awareness, foster accountability, and support national efforts in tackling financial crimes through community engagement and advocacy.
The successful conclusion of these town hall meetings marks a significant step forward in Liberia’s ongoing battle against corruption and the promotion of financial transparency.
