The Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia (OWECC-L), has expressed concern over a “deliberate attempts by elements within the
government to stall the long-anticipated establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court.
The Court Executive Director, Dr. Jallah A. Barbu, told a local radio program in Monrovia on Tuesday, that he was frustrated with the “non-cooperative attitudes” from key government officials, including the Minister of Justice, the President’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, and the National Security Advisor for the delay.
He said, the officials have slowed the process through their “actions or inactions.”
“The delays,” Barbu said, stemmed from the reported failure to review two draft laws submitted by OWECC-L to the Ministry of Justice, and the Office of the President for technical review and subsequent submission to the legislature.
He specifically named Justice Minister Oswald N. Tweh, Presidential Legal Advisor Busheben Keita, and National Security Advisor Samuel Kofi Woods, as those that have adopted “a non-cooperative posture, which has hindered timely progress.”
Dr. Barbu warned that continued delays have undermine national efforts to accountability, justice, and reconciliation.
“There are elements in government that are stalling the War Crimes Court process, because they want a failed process.”
Though the named officials are yet to reply to Barbu’s comment, he said, such actions risk eroding public confidence in government’s commitment to justice.
Dr. Barbu said, while there is growing public support for accountability, institutional resistance continues to hinder meaningful advancement.