Gbarnga, Bong County — A Commissioner of the Office of the Ombudsman, Atty: Etmonia Martin, has raised concerns about the poor state of roads across Liberia, describing them as evidence of the need for stronger oversight of public resources.
Speaking to journalists in Gbarnga after an awareness meeting with county officials and students, Martin said her institution’s nationwide outreach has revealed major infrastructure challenges, particularly the condition of roads connecting counties to the capital.
“Being an ombudsperson traveling on a bad road points to the fact that there needs to be a constant audit of how state resources are used,” Martin said.
She noted that despite Liberia’s long history as Africa’s oldest republic, development in key sectors such as road infrastructure remains limited. “We cannot be the oldest republic on the continent and still be one of the least developed,” she added.
Martin cited her recent trip from Monrovia to Maryland County, which she said took about 13 hours by road. “People say the road is better now than before because people used to spend days or weeks on the road, but it still doesn’t really add up,” she said, noting that many of the roads are still unpaved even though they remain passable.
The ombudsman commissioner made the remarks during a visit to Gbarnga in Bong County, where her office conducted awareness sessions on Liberia’s Code of Conduct for public officials.
According to Martin, the outreach campaign has also taken the Ombudsman team to Nimba, Maryland, and Grand Gedeh Counties as part of efforts to educate citizens about ethical standards for government officials.
She explained that the program targets county officials, youth groups, women’s organizations, and students, focusing on principles such as selflessness, integrity, and honesty in public service.
“The Code of Conduct talks about how government officials and appointees should conduct themselves to ensure that the resources of the state benefit the citizens,” Martin said.
Martin also noted that the Ombudsman does not prosecute cases but investigates ethical violations. When wrongdoing is established, cases are forwarded to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and the Ministry of Justice for possible prosecution, she noted.
She disclosed that the office has handled close to 100 cases so far, with several investigations nearing completion and awaiting final decisions.
Martin also emphasized the need to decentralize the Ombudsman’s operations beyond Montserrado County, where the office is currently based. She said discussions are ongoing with the central government and international partners to establish regional or county-level offices.
“We have only been to a few counties so far, but the need for a physical presence is very compelling,” she said.
Despite logistical challenges such as limited copies of the Code of Conduct and poor road conditions, Martin described the reception in Bong County as warm and encouraging, noting that participants were eager to see how compliance with ethical standards can be strengthened at the county level.
