Former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf spoke on Corruption and Accountability at a one-day good governance symposium held in Monrovia. Verity News has compiled the key highlights of her speech:
“I wish that I could tell you that with all this effort, we won the corruption fight. We did not. And we are facing the same thing today.”
“Audits were published and then forgotten. Too few cases reached a courtroom and few ended in conviction.”
“Accountability without consequence will only be a report on the shelf.”
“Accountability begins at the top; the very top. Or, it does not begin at all.”
“Citizens believe and follow not what leaders say, but what they do.”
“Leadership is trust and can be withdrawn. Good governance is not an input. It is a return to values.”
“There can be no accountability without inclusion. Leaders are accountable only to those who develop or have the power to question them. Transparency matters only when every citizen can see and every citizen is counted.”
Reflection: Did former president Weah win or lose the war against corruption? Is president Boakai winning or losing? Your thoughts.
