By: Sampson W. Weah – sampsonwweah7@gmail.com
Former Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Cllr. James N. Verdier, Jr., has issued a stark warning: Liberia cannot effectively fight corruption while underfunding the very institutions tasked with safeguarding integrity.
Speaking at the National Anti-Corruption Financing Policy Dialogue in Monrovia, Verdier described corruption as “an economic cancer” that deprives citizens of essential services, undermines democracy, and disproportionately impacts the poor.
He noted that Liberia’s key watchdog institutions—including the LACC, General Auditing Commission (GAC), Internal Audit Agency (IAA), Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), and Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC)—remain hampered by chronic underfunding.
Verdier emphasized that agencies responsible for investigating public officials should not rely financially on the same political actors they are mandated to monitor—a situation he called both “ironic and dangerous.”
He recommended reforms including legislative control over budgets, multi-year funding allocations, legal safeguards against arbitrary budget cuts, and allowing agencies to retain a portion of recovered assets.
“Financial independence is essential for integrity institutions to operate without fear or favor,” Verdier stressed, pointing to international evidence showing that anti-corruption agencies are most effective when backed by stable and autonomous funding.
CENTAL Executive Director, Anderson D. Miamen, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to advocating for stronger financial support for anti-graft bodies.
He outlined the dialogue’s objectives: enhancing budget advocacy, improving information-sharing, and strengthening partnerships among government, civil society, donors, and citizens.
European Union Ambassador Nona Deprez also pledged continued EU support, stressing that increased funding must be accompanied by transparency and responsible management of public resources.
Supported by SIDA through the Embassy of Sweden, the event underscored a shared message: Liberia cannot achieve accountable governance unless its integrity institutions are properly equipped and empowered to perform their duties effectively.
