**Liberia’s OWECC-L Urges Legislature to Fast-Track Accountability and Protection Bills**
**MONROVIA** – The Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OWECC-L) has called on the Liberian Legislature to prioritize the passage of four interconnected legislative measures aimed at strengthening the nation’s justice and anti-corruption framework.
Dr. Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu, Executive Director of OWECC-L, issued the appeal during a national dialogue held on September 3, 2026, titled “Strengthening Protection Mechanisms for Witnesses, Whistleblowers, and Victims: Advancing Liberia’s Anti-Corruption and Transitional Justice Commitments.”
The proposed legislative package includes:
* Amendments to the Witness Protection Act.
* Amendments to the Whistleblower Act.
* Legislation for the War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC).
* Legislation for the National Anti-Corruption Commission/Court (NACC).
Dr. Barbu argued that these four instruments are mutually reinforcing and must be treated as a cohesive unit. “These amendments, and in fact the entire Witness Protection Act and the Whistleblower Act, are supportive of and interrelated instruments with the WECC and NACC Bills; they complement each other, as one cannot do without the other,” he stated.
According to OWECC-L, the current lack of robust protection mechanisms creates a climate of fear that prevents witnesses, whistleblowers, and victims from coming forward. The organization warned that without guaranteed safety, the state will struggle to secure the testimony and evidence necessary to prosecute war crimes, economic crimes, and corruption.
Dr. Barbu further emphasized the need for the Witness Protection Agency to decentralize its operations, noting that current protections are too concentrated in Monrovia to effectively serve the entire country. He argued that failing to provide adequate safeguards for those who provide evidence undermines the credibility of the judicial process.
The OWECC-L has requested that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. encourage the Legislature to expedite the review and passage of these measures. Dr. Barbu suggested that legislative action is essential to demonstrate Liberia’s commitment to the rule of law and to meet international expectations ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
In addition to the four accountability bills, the OWECC-L urged lawmakers to finalize the Women, Peace and Security instrument, describing it as an outstanding commitment to Liberia’s international partners.
The organization cautioned that continued legislative delay could erode public confidence and lead citizens to question the government’s commitment to addressing critical governance and justice issues. “Liberia cannot effectively pursue transitional justice, fight corruption, or prosecute serious crimes without protecting the people whose testimony and information make justice possible,” Dr. Barbu concluded.
Article and image source: analystliberiaonline.com
