By Stephen N. Tokpah
(freelancer)
The Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission (LACC), Alexandra K. Zoe, says there is a huge ‘misplaced emphasis’ in the fight against corruption across Liberia.
“We think corruption is only about misappropriation or misapplication of public monies by public officials and other duty bearers but if your interventions cannot improve the lives of ordinary people and communities across Liberia, you lack the moral integrity to criticize the government,” she reminded.
Making remark at the start of a three-day anti-corruption training aimed at empowering citizens and communities to foster social accountability and transparency in governance and public service delivery with support from the United Nations Development Program, the LACC boss said, “It is time CSOs become accountable for donors’ funding. I challenge you people to be responsible and ensure value for money in the way you use donors’ support.”
“Your advocacy must align with your public image to earn the respect and admiration and trust of development partners and the donor community,” Cllr. Zoe added.
The training also seeks to improve accountability and transparency in governance, leading to an improved service delivery to meet the needs of citizens and communities.
Opening the ceremony on July 31, 2024, in Gbarnga, Bong County, the LACC’s Executive Chairperson, said empowering citizens and communities to foster social accountability and transparency in government and public service delivery otherwise called the social accountability and transparency project is intended to strengthen understanding when it comes to the fright of corruption.
She said the project is a United Nations Peacebuilding Fund supported project and it’s implemented by UNDP, UN Women and Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL) in the 15 counties of Liberia.
Cllr. Zoe said the project seeks to strengthen the capacity of citizens and the communities to work with national and local authorities to hold them accountable in delivering inclusive and equitable services to the public.
According to Cllr. Zoe, the social accountability project adopts an inclusive approach, taking into account the unique roles and responsibilities of Anti-corruption and integrity institutions, civil society organizations, women’s organizations, youth, and local leaders.
She further noted that the objective of three days of training is to build the capacity of women and youth organizations to understand the correlation between governance and development, and the negative effects of corruption on service delivery, such as education, Healthcare, and access to justice.
“Women are passionate about their well-being and a prosperous future for their children,” she added.
The project will endeavor to build the capacity of women and youth groups to engage in evidence-based advocacy to actively participate and contribute to public policies to give attention to the specific needs of vulnerable groups and children, disabled, and visually impaired persons, among others.
“I challenge women’s groups to demand their place at the table of decision-making. Refuse to be relegated to mere demographic statistics, and ensure that you are well represented on County Councils by qualified, experienced, and competent women, who know how to articulate women’s issues and concerns for inclusion in the county development planning. Push for transparency and efficiency in public service delivery; demand accountability in education, organize advocacy campaigns against artificial scarcity of essential goods and services and the resultant inflation that exposes ordinary Liberians to economic hardship,” Cllr. Zoe stressed.
The three-day workshop which seeks to equip youth and women with the knowledge and skill to participate in youth and women-oriented service delivery at the county and District levels is being held under the theme: “Improving public knowledge through enabling anti-corruption legislation,” with funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.
