The Executive Vice Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission, (LACC), Ernest Hughes said, the legacy for impunity whether for economic crimes or grave human rights violation, has undermine public trust.
Hughes said, the situation has also weakened institutions and rub generations of their future.
He made the disclosure at a recent national conference in Monrovia.
Hughes indicated that for the country to heal and for it democracy to thrive, “it is key to build a unified accountability ecosystem, where institutions reinforce each other’s mandate and close the impunity gaps from all angles.
He said, the struggle against corruption, and the demand for justice for gross human rights violation, are not mutually exclusively, rather interconnected pursuits rooted in the people’s cry for dignity, fairness and good governance.
Hughes told the gathering that the Commission is committed to such collaboration, stating: “It mandate to investigate, prevent and prosecutive acts of corruption naturally compliments efforts to pursue justice for war and economic crimes.”
Corruption, he said, has historically fueled conflict, sustained violence and eroded systems meant to protect human rights.
The LACC, Hughes said, sees justice, not as retrospective, but as restorative and preventive.
He meanwhile, encouraged a mutual support between the LACC and the Office of the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court through share intelligence, investigative cooperation, legal analysis and joint advocacy for accountability systems that serves the Liberian people without fear or favor.
Mr. Hughes then acknowledged that for the collaboration to yield the needed results, it must be resourced guided by law and supporter by unwavering political will.
He thanked all partners, international community, including other accountability institutions of the country.
He also recommends that such key gathering should not be the end, but the beginning of sustained action towards a just transparent and accountable country.
Source: Fortune TV Liberia Staff Writer