The operations of Liberia’s Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court and the Anti-Corruption Court (OWECC-L) face possible paralysis as staff threaten to embark on a go-slow action over prolonged salary delays and budget shortfalls.
The disgruntled employees say they have gone without pay for nearly five months, a situation they describe as “demoralizing and unsustainable,” warning that continued neglect could derail Liberia’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption and end impunity for war crimes.
According to sources within the institution, President Joseph Boakai had committed US$2 million through Executive Order No. 148, to be disbursed in four quarterly payments of US$500,000 each.
However, staffs allege that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has failed to release even the first installment and has not engaged with OWECC-L leadership regarding the delay.
“The Minister’s initial excuse that there were no funds to pay even the first US$500,000 is no longer credible,” one source said. “We have waited patiently, but the silence is unacceptable.”
Staff members lamented that the withheld funds have crippled basic operations and forced them to depend on personal credit to keep essential services running, including fueling generators and maintaining communications.
“How can we effectively run an institution that represents justice and accountability when we can’t even pay our staff?” one frustrated employee asked. “The Minister of Finance’s refusal to approve the budget is undermining everything this office stands for.”
Despite earlier proposals for a US$1 million operational budget, the Ministry reportedly approved only US$500,000; an amount staffs say is inadequate to cover salaries and other critical expenses.
“We’ve submitted adjusted budgets, but nothing has been done. It’s humiliating to depend on credit for a government office tasked with fighting corruption,” another employee added.
Some employees drew parallels to past financial hardships, recalling that OWECC-L staffs were previously owned up to seven months’ salary before payments were finally made.
When contacted, Cllr. Dr. Jallah A. Barbue, Executive Director of OWECC-L, confirmed he was out of town on institutional duties and could not provide further details regarding the salary delays.
The looming go-slow comes at a sensitive time for Liberia’s justice sector.
Any disruption could stall critical groundwork for the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court, a central pillar in the country’s commitment to accountability, reconciliation, and good governance.
OWECC-L staffs are appealing to President Boakai and the MFDP to act swiftly to resolve the impasse.
