-Also wants implementation of TRC report prioritized
The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) has issued a statement raising concern about the increasing hardship being caused by the difficult economic situation in the country, while stressing the need to prioritize implementation of the TRC report.
Veteran Liberian Economist and Politician, Dr. Togba-Nah Tipoteh is heading a special committee of Economists and corporate and business Entrepreneurs to find solutions to Liberia’s economic woes.
The LCC established the group following its 2nd Quarter Executive Council meeting on Saturday.
In a statement over the weekend, the Council of Churches said, the committee will make recommendations that will inform its recommendations to the Liberian Government as a contribution to remedy the economic situation in the Country.
The LCC acknowledged the inflation in the prices of basic commodities on the Liberian market and the uncontrollable depreciation of the Liberian dollar against the United States dollar are factors it said creating difficulties for the shrinking economy and a misery for ordinary citizens.
The Council at the same time called on all Liberians to continue to exercise patience and perseverance, saying efforts are being made by national stakeholders and its development partners to address many of the challenges facing the country.
The Liberia Council of Church says it is seriously concerned about the need to consolidate peace and stability and address questions of reconciliation and justice in Liberia, amid repeated calls for the Weah administration to prioritize the implementation of the TRC report and the formation of a war crimes court.
The Council said it has set up a special committee chaired by its second vice President, Rev. Olu Menjay. The committee will develop an operational framework for an ecumenical committee that will review the current status on the recommendations and implementation of the TRC process by the Liberian Government.
In a statement, the council said the committee will subsequently adopt a position to advance peace and reconciliation in the country.
Although no official statement has come from the Weah administration on implementing the TRC report, which implicates some of its top officials, there have been indirect comments from senior administration officials about restorative justice rather than retributive justice.
Since the conviction of Tom Woewiyu, a spokesman for the defunct NPFL rebel movement, pressure has been mounting on the CDC-led government implement the report and prosecute those accused of war and economic crimes.
Recently, 78 local and international rights organizations, presented a petition to the UN Human Rights Council to press the Weah administration for justice. Anthony Stevens contributed this Report