By By: Alphanso G. Kalama;
Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has released its long-anticipated 2024 investigation report, revealing staggering levels of corruption involving some of Liberia’s most powerful institutions and government officials. Yet, despite millions of dollars reportedly siphoned off, not a single indictment has been secured — and critics are already calling it a “toothless exercise in futility.”
The damning report, covering cases concluded in 2024, paints a grim picture of systemic corruption — from money laundering at the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) to procurement fraud at the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) worth a jaw-dropping US$3 million. The Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) case alone details over US$6 million suspiciously transferred from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) involving prominent names like former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and ex-Deputy Justice Minister Cllr. Nyenati Tuan. Yet all these cases sit in limbo as the nation waits for legal action.
High-Profile Names, Zero Consequences
Shocking allegations entangle key players — including ex-Monrovia City Corporation official Varney Passewe for laundering US$1.1 million, and the Ministry of State’s Nathaniel McGill over alleged payroll padding. Not even Liberia’s electoral body, the National Elections Commission (NEC), escaped scrutiny, accused of misappropriating US$161,000 in official corruption.
Projects meant to benefit ordinary Liberians — from hospital renovations to bridges in Rivercess County — also fell prey to greed, with tens of thousands allegedly siphoned off by local officials and contractors.
Millions Lost, But Why No Arrests?
Despite completing investigations into 27 high-stakes cases totaling over US$15 million in alleged corruption and theft, the LACC admits that not a single indictment has been secured. The Commission blames the bottleneck on the lack of a specialized anti-corruption court, noting that just one court in Montserrado handles such cases — a bottleneck some observers call a convenient excuse.
“This report reads like a blueprint of national robbery,” said a political analyst in Monrovia. “But what’s the use if no one faces justice? This just reinforces the culture of impunity we’ve battled for decades.”
Growing Public Outcry
Ordinary Liberians, already burdened by economic hardship, have taken to social media, questioning the relevance of an anti-corruption commission that exposes rot but seems powerless to enforce accountability.
“Millions gone, but nobody in handcuffs — what message are they sending? That stealing is allowed if you’re well-connected?” asked one citizen on Facebook.
What Next?
The LACC has promised to release first-quarter 2025 cases in April. But critics argue that unless Liberia fast-tracks the creation of a dedicated anti-corruption court, the public should expect more reports — and more unpunished corruption.
