The Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL) are calling for the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Court in Liberia to tackle issues of corruption in government and other professional areas.
The EFFL said that as part of the President’s first legislative agenda, he should submit a bill that seeks to establish the Anti- Corruption Court and make corruption a non-bailable offense to demonstrate genuine efforts to fight corruption and bring to book those guilty of corrupt practices.
The group said, “The EFFL is glad that the President is committed to his campaign promises to the people of Liberia, especially in the areas of fighting corruption, illicit drugs, and promoting quality education, strengthening the Liberian economy and enhancing better health care for our people, and road construction. While the President’s SONA was soul touching, the implementation of presidential vision has always been our problem in Liberia. The EFFL is looking forward to helping the President achieve his agenda for the people of Liberia, and would like to suggest to the President that as part of efforts to sincerely fight corruption, the President must immediately constitute a Presidential Task Force with timeline on Access Recovery.”
The EFFL observed that the taskforce will begin the process of auditing the outgoing government, noting, “We can’t afford to fight corruption only in statement, but rather, by actions.”
The EFFL said it is prepared to help the Boakai-Koung administration on such Task Force because they are an institution that is fighting corruption in all sectors of government and internationally.
In a press release, the group called on the Liberian leader to put the economy back in the hands of our people, using internationally accepted anti-corruption standards, noting that such intention would create thousands of new jobs in the private sector and reduce the pressure on the government payroll, which is huge, observing that it is time to expand the economy through the private sector and by doing so, certain criminal investment incentives granted to foreign companies should be immediately removed without preconditions.
“H.E. Amb. Joseph N. Boakai, the EFFL would like to remind you that you promised the Liberian people that they will have a stake in the economy, and so, we want you to be intentional about this. The fight against corruption should be robust to ensure punitive measures for persons found guilty, and serve as a deterrent for persons intending to use their offices to steal from the people they serve.”
Meanwhile, the group is calling on President Boakai to lift the Executive Order placed on the exportation of rubber by former President George Weah, claiming that the move by President Weah to stop the exportation of natural rubber is intended to strangulate and undermine the economy, and it is the foundation for a renewed distribution of poverty across Liberia.
The EFFL said in its press release that Firestone, LACC, and other big rubber concessions have positively impacted the Liberian economy for many years and there has never been a call for such Executive Order, noting that George Weah’s Executive Order is anti-Liberia and should be immediately removed.
They called on President Joseph Boakai to ensure that the economy is stabilized so that the ordinary Liberian can afford to put food on his table.
“This Executive Order will prevent additional flow of foreign liquidity and as well prevent internal economic growth under your leadership.”
“Additionally, Mr. President, the palm oil investment incentives granted to Fouani Brothers by the outgoing government should be totally removed. These incentives can only be effective provided that you are running a socialist system like the EFFL has been proposing, but considering that the Liberia economy is still under a capitalist system, you can’t grant such incentives or issue such Executive Order.”
The group said that the State essentially has nothing to benefit from such elementary economic school of thought, considering the current economic model, saying, “Mr. President, the EFFL refuses to accept any confused economic model that will undermine the growth of our people and the Liberian State.
“Therefore, we are asking your office to immediately remove the Executive Order on natural rubber so that our people can have a chance to survive. The people of Liberia shouldn’t survive at the mercy of foreign companies,” the EFFL said, noting that the Executive Order was cash-influenced and only favors Jeety Rubber Corporation and its evil mindset.
“Allowing the local farmers to export their rubbers will give them better profit margin, and as well bring in foreign currency for our local banks to properly function,” the Freedom Fighters said.
