GYAC-Liberia Calls for Transparency, Integrity and Accountability in Government

The Global Youth Anti-Corruption Network Liberia Chapter (GYAC-Liberia) has made the latest call for Transparency, Integrity and Accountability in the public sector.

According to the international anti-corruption youth group, what we saw in Tunis and Cairo were extremes. But this demonstrated the very real threat faced by governments who do not stop corruption. The anti-corruption watch dog also stated that when people are denied their basic rights, where petty bribery is allowed to flourish and where those in power act with impunity, citizens will protest.

Speaking in Monrovia recently, GYAC-Liberia National Coordinator, James Koryor stated that the current situation in the country is sadden, regrettable and worrisome stating that the recent global human development report ranking Liberia amongst the poorest nation on the planet evidently justified the Transparency International 2013 corruption perception report .

Mr. James Koryor furthered stressed that the problem in Liberia is not about framework or policies to combat corruption, but rather the lack of integrity, nationalism and sincerity by those who manages the wealth of the country.

The youth advocate also asserted that the challenge for government is to meet this demand and regain trust in their management of the public good. And transparency is essential to maintaining public trust in the government and public service.

The youth advocate furthered stressed that with millions of dollars been spent by the United States, European Union and other friendly countries to improves the living conditions of poverty stricken Liberians, but the government has failed to properly managed these donor funded initiatives least to say that millions have be wasted on local development projects with not even 30% of all projects under the County Development Fund manage by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and local government officials being fully implemented.

GYAC-Liberia is at the same time calling for an immediate establishment of a fast track court in an effort to end impunity stressing that the lack of a fast track corruption court, the failure of the Ministry of Justice to prosecute who be corrupt officials and the dismantling of the General Auditing Commission have proven that the Government of Liberia is not interested in improving the lives of her citizens by fighting against corruption.