Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberian government has strongly advocated for greater international scrutiny of financial flows associated with forest resources through Justice Minister and Attorney General N. Oswald Tweh, pointing out that inadequate oversight still contributes to illegal logging, corruption, and environmental degradation.
Speaking at the FGMC Stakeholder Forum 2026 in London, England on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Cllr. Tweh stated that transparency and accountability in the financial flow of the sector are necessary for sustainable forest management.
More than 70 representatives from countries with abundant forests and other international partners attended the high-level meeting, which was organized by the UK government. He said, “The health of a forest is inseparable from the integrity of the transactions that occur within it, stressing that financial opacity often lies at the root of illegal logging and governance failures.”
He maintained that rather than being solely an environmental or technological concern, forest protection ought to be viewed as a rule-of-law priority. Tweh cited research from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change showing that deforestation accounts for up to 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions to highlight the global stakes.
He cautioned that ongoing deforestation could undermine global climate objectives. The Justice Minister next turned to Liberia, describing it as a crucial ecological bastion that is home to over half of the Upper Guinea Forest that remains in West Africa. He cited important reforms as significant advances toward better governance and greater community ownership, such as the 2006 National Forestry Reform Law and the 2018 Land Rights Act.
Acknowledging Liberia’s difficult past, which included massive illicit logging and the 2012 private use permit controversy, Minister Tweah also pointed out that the prosecution of high-ranking officials was a significant step in the direction of accountability. “We have shown the courage to confront our own shortcomings,” he said.
Liberia’s Justice Minister acknowledged that despite advancements, achievements are still being undermined by weak implementation, corruption threats, and enforcement shortcomings. He disclosed that in order to effectively address persistent issues, the government is revisiting forestry regulations and strengthening prosecution capabilities.
The Minister commended global cooperation, including the UK’s assistance through the Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (FGMC) program, which has bolstered reform initiatives and transparency frameworks. In spite of anticipated reductions in UK development aid, he also conveyed gratitude.
Through a memorandum of understanding signed in December 2025, Liberia and the UK recently reinforced their collaboration, reiterating pledges to sustainable forest management, community benefits, and law enforcement. Additionally, the meeting brought together representatives from Ghana, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to discuss strategies to ensure that local populations benefit from the riches of natural resources and to align financial systems with forest protection.
As part of Liberia’s ongoing participation in international forums addressing environmental governance and economic development, Justice Minister, Joel Elkanah Theoway, Assistant Minister for Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Justice, and FDA Managing Director Rudolph J. Merab attended the forum.
