By Emmanuel Kamanda
The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) joined national stakeholders in demanding the establishment and operationalization of Liberia’s Specialized National Anti-Corruption Court.
Speaking as a panelist at the National Anti-Corruption Policy Dialogue, PUL President Julius Kanubah underscored that the creation of the court is a consequential necessity for safeguarding Liberia’s democratic governance and future development.
“The Press Union of Liberia calls on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, House Speaker Richard Koon, Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, and all branches of government to make the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Court their collective legacy,” stressed Kanubah.
Kanubah warned that any attempt to stall the court’s creation would be a betrayal of future generations, noting that corruption has long reversed development, entrenched poverty, eroded human security, and weakened the rule of law.
He recalled Liberia’s painful history, where corruption fueled civil war, deepened public distrust, and even led to brutal executions under military dictatorship.
While acknowledging commendable steps taken by the Boakai administration – such as suspensions, dismissals, and prosecutions of officials – the PUL President emphasized that the pace of action remains too slow.
He cautioned that if the court is not established and operational by December 2026, political calculations ahead of the 2029 elections risk derailing this national imperative.
In May 2026, President Joseph Boakai submitted to the Legislature a bill to establish the Specialized National Anti-Corruption Court, following nationwide consultations led by the Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court (OWECC L).
Kanubah highlighted that the specialized court would:
Guarantee effective prosecution of corruption cases.
Foster public trust in governance and institutions.
Safeguard public funds to strengthen the foundation for sustainable development.
Echoing former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s metaphor that “corruption is a vampire,” Kanubah declared: “The Specialized National Anti-Corruption Court must become Liberia’s Anti-Corruption Vampire. It will be the instrument that drains corruption of its lifeblood, ensuring that impunity no longer stalks our institutions and that justice prevails over exploitation”.
The National Anti-Corruption Policy Dialogue was convened by the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) in partnership with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court (OWECC L), with support from the Embassy of Ireland.
The event, held at the Boulevard Palace in Sinkor, brought together prominent voices including former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Ambassador Gerad Considine (Embassy of Sweden), Cllr. Dr. Jallah Barbu (OWECC L), Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe, Cllr. Alexandra Zoe (Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission), Mr. Christian Mukosa (UN Office for Human Rights), Mr. Lawrence Yealue (National Civil Society Council of Liberia), Cllr. Bendu Kpoto (Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia), Mr. Matthew Kollie (Governance Commission), Madam Lorpu Page (Independent Information Commission).
