PHOTO: (L-R) Temple of Justice and Pres. Joe Boakai
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia- Liberia’s 26th President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, who has repeatedly said the days of business as usual is over, has strongly criticized the state of the country’s Judicial system.
The Judiciary is one link in the Criminal Justice system which comprises the Court, Police and Correction.
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, January 29, 2024 joined the Liberian public, the US State Department as well as several others within the Judiciary who have repeatedly decried corruption in the country’s judiciary.
“Our justice system which is meant to protect the innocent and punish the guilty, has been marred by inefficiency, corruption, and lack of public trust.
I am counting on this honorable Body to pass effective legislation and support financial appropriations that will help us win the fight against corruption,” the new Liberian President said.
A string of criticisms of corruption in the Liberian judiciary has characterized US State Department reports over the years up to 2022.
“Significant human rights issues included: arbitrary killings by police; arbitrary detention by government officials; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; substantial restrictions on free expression and the press, including site blocking; official corruption; lack of accountability in cases of violence against women due to government inaction in some instances, including rape, domestic violence, and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C); trafficking in persons; the existence or use of laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults; and use of forced or compulsory child labor,” says the US State Department 2019 report.. https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/liberia/
Realizing the need to nip the failings of the criminal justice system, President vowed deal with justice and law and order issues robustly in his first SONA on Monday.
“Anyone caught in the act of corruption will face the full weight of the law, with swift and non-discriminatory enforcement. Our commitment to good governance is unwavering. Transparency, accountability, and the rule of law will guide our actions. We will fight corruption and build institutions that serve the people’s interests,” said Boakai.
He assured the Liberian people that his ruling Unity Party government would be “accountable to its citizens is a government that can truly serve the needs of its people”.
President Boakai, who was Vice President in the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government, took office a week ago on January 22, 2024, after defeated former President George Manneh Weah in the November 14, 2023 presidential run-off election.
Article 58 of the Liberia’s 1986 constitution required the President to give the state of the nation to a joint session of the Legislature on the third working Monday in January.
“Article 58 The President shall, on the fourth working Monday in January of each year, present the administration’s legislative program for the ensuing session, and shall once a year report to the Legislature on the state of the Republic. In presenting the economic condition of the Republic the report shall cover expenditure as well as income.” Liberia’s 1986 constitution