IPNEWS: The Government of Liberia, through the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), on December 9, 2025, joined the global community in commemorating International Anti-Corruption Day.
This year’s observance was held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex under the national theme: “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption for a Peaceful, Inclusive, and Prosperous Liberia.” The program showcased Liberia’s ongoing efforts and the challenges that remain in the fight against corruption.
LACC officials emphasized that tackling corruption is a shared responsibility and urged all Liberians to renew their commitment to building a society anchored in integrity, accountability, and equal opportunity. They described the theme as timely, urgent, and crucial to the nation’s development agenda.
Liberia is one of the youngest nations in the world, with more than 70 percent of its population under the age of 35. According to the LACC, young people are the country’s greatest asset—its innovators, dreamers, and future leaders—yet they are also disproportionately affected by corruption.
“When corruption drains the national budget, it is the youth who suffer the most,” officials noted, citing reduced access to quality education, healthcare, employment, and public infrastructure.
The Commission stressed that the war against corruption cannot be won without the active leadership and participation of young people. “They are not bystanders,” the LACC stated. “They are central drivers of integrity, transparency, and accountability.”
Impact of Corruption on Peace and Development
The LACC warned that corruption remains one of the gravest threats to peace, stability, and national development in Liberia. It weakens institutions, deprives citizens of essential services, fuels inequality, and undermines public trust in leadership—risks that could reverse gains made since the end of the civil conflict.
A peaceful and inclusive Liberia, they emphasized, requires governance rooted in transparency. A prosperous Liberia demands that public resources serve all citizens, not just a privileged few.
To this end, the LACC reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying efforts in corruption prevention, investigations, prosecution support, asset declaration enforcement, and institutional reforms aimed at promoting accountability across the public sector.
