By Tokpa M. Tarnue, tarnue82@gmail.com
VOINJAMA, Lofa County — The Office of the Ombudsman of Liberia has taken its nationwide public awareness campaign to Voinjama, Lofa County, with a day-long awareness program aimed at informing residents about the mandate, functions, and importance of the Ombudsman’s Office in promoting accountability and integrity in public service.
“Liberia Ombudsman office came into being through a 2021 Act to ensure compliance with the norms and behaviours required of all public officials and employees of the government. It aims to guide, regulate and ensure adherence to the Code of Conduct, which is a crucial step in enhancing accountability and oversight in Liberian institutions.”
The awareness activity brought together students and other stakeholders to learn more about the Office of the Ombudsman, its responsibilities, and the ways in which members of the public can engage with the institution.
Speaking at the start of the event in Voinjama, the executive director Saa David Nyuma disclosed that nationwide campaign is part of ongoing efforts by the Office of the Ombudsman to bring information about its work closer to citizens across Liberia.
“Through the campaign, the Office is seeking to increase public understanding of its role and encourage citizens to become more familiar with the mechanisms available for addressing concerns related to public administration and ethical conduct” he added.
He further noted that, the Office of the Ombudsman mandate as an institution is to promote integrity, accountability, transparency, and ethical standards within Liberia’s public sector.
The awareness also provided an opportunity for participants to better understand how the Ombudsman’s Office works and the circumstances under which members of the public may seek the institution’s assistance.
The importance of this public awareness is to strengthen the relationship between citizens and public institutions and therefore, citizens who understand the responsibilities and functions of government institutions are better positioned to participate in efforts aimed at promoting good governance and accountability.
“As an institution, we continued to use public engagement as an important part of our work, recognizing that the effectiveness of an accountability institution depends not only on its legal mandate but also on citizens’ awareness of that mandate” Mr. Nyuma further disclosed.
The Voinjama awareness forms part of the broader nationwide public education initiative being undertaken by the Office of the Ombudsman of Liberia. The campaign is intended to reach communities in different parts of the country and provide citizens with practical information about the institution and its workings.
The day-long engagement in Voinjama therefore represented not only an awareness activity but also an opportunity to strengthen communication between the Ombudsman’s Office and the people it serves.