Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberian government, represented by Justice Minister and Attorney General Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Sr., strongly rejects allegations that it is delaying the creation of a War and Economic Crimes Court (WECC), calling such claims “false, misleading, and far-fetched” and attributing delays to technical reviews and cooperation gaps.
Speaking at a high-level anti-corruption and accountability discussion on Thursday, April 23, 2026, the Justice Minister explicitly addressed concerns voiced by Dr. Jallah Barbu, the Executive Director of WECC, stressing that the process is still firmly on course in spite of criticism.
The Minister claims that several court draft laws, including one that Dr. Barbu presented, are presently being harmonized to create a single, all-inclusive legislative document for submission. He emphasized that this procedure is not an indication of declining political will, but rather is required to guarantee legal clarity and efficacy.
“The government has demonstrated clear and consistent commitment to establishing the court, pointing to two separate executive orders already issued as evidence of that commitment. Any suggestion that the government is attempting to downplay or derail the process is simply not true,” the Minister declared.
Also, Cllr. Tweh acknowledged delays but attributed them to the need for technical alignment among competing draft proposals, as well as what he described as “gaps in cooperation” with the WECC office. He maintained that these challenges are procedural rather than political.
The Justice Minister also dismissed allegations that funding has been withheld from the Office of the WECC in a sharp clarification. He disclosed that the Ministry of Finance withheld payments since there was no compliance expenditure plan, stating that it was inappropriate to operate outside of recognized public financial management standards.
“Public funds must be properly accounted for, adding that while the government seeks to preserve the independence of the WECC office, it cannot compromise on transparency and accountability standards,” he narrated.
Despite the difficulties, the Minister adopted a conciliatory stance, urging the government and the WECC office to work together to address any unresolved concerns. With the goal to finalize a harmonized bill and reach a transparent implementation and funding structure engaging important parties, including international partners and civil society, Liberia’s Attorney General suggested holding urgent technical sessions.
“The people and victims of Liberia deserve truth, justice, and reconciliation. The government will not be deterred from delivering the War and Economic Crimes Court,” he added.
Cllr. Tweh urged the WECC leadership and partners to move “beyond rhetoric” and engage in constructive collaboration to fulfill the country’s longstanding accountability commitments.
The Justice Ministry promised to continue working with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, and the judiciary as part of its larger commitment to the rule of law and human rights-centered anti-corruption initiatives.
The conversation highlights the public’s rising concern about the speed at which the long-awaited court which is generally regarded as essential to resolving economic crimes and wartime atrocities as well as promoting national reconciliation is being established.
Reported by: Prince Saah
