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By Lewis S. Teh
The Governance Commission, or GC, in collaboration with the Ducor Institute for Social Justice and Economic Research, has convened a one-day policy dialogue that focuses on the significance of the Liberian civil conflict, which claimed approximately 250,000 innocent lives.
Remarking at the start of the dialogue, Thursday, July 10, 2025, at a local hotel in Sinkor, GC, Acting Chairperson Professor Alaric Tokpa welcomed attendees at the dialogue, including development partners, government officials from the executive, judiciary, and the legislature, civil society organizations, youths, and student groups.
” We convene this dialogue in continuation of the national healing reconciliation and unity endeavors under the leadership of President Boakai, and to say in this open manner that we are committed to supporting the War and Economic Crimes Court process as significant part of building peace, sustaining stability, promoting social economic development and nourishing good governance.”
He said the War and Economic Crimes Court is a national demand that must be satisfied on grounds that the taking away of human lives, the degradation of fellow human beings, the irresponsible destruction of public and private properties, disregard for rule of law, and the violation of international humanitarian law are unacceptable crimes that shouldn’t be ignored.
” The establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia is crucial for ending impunity, deterring future perpetrators of atrocities, and providing justice and redress to victims of war crimes,” he said.
He, however, added that the establishment of a non-bailable anti-corruption court in Liberia is urgent, while stating that the establishment of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia will be more than a judicial undertaking, as it is a moral and historical obligation.
” Ladies and Gentlemen, the court will represent Liberia’s determination to confront its past and chart a new path towards justice, accountability, national healing, and unity.”
At the same time, the acting GC Chairperson used the occasion to extend gratitude to Liberia’s development partners, including ECOWAS, the UN, the AU, and the EU, who have made an enduring commitment to sustaining Liberia’s quest for justice.
For his part, Dr. Aaron Weah, Executive Director of the Ducor Institute for Social Justice, presented a research-driven analysis on the significance of the war and economic crimes court. He said the WECC is intended to subject Liberia’s recent history to scrutiny, produce an impartial record that will enable new history books to be written.
Under social making
Dr. Weah said violent memories of the social civil war have been repackaged in memoir films and casually transmitted these violent memories without caring about the danger they pose to society.
He made specific reference to the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction, or MDR, formerly led by the late Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson, adding that the party is perceived as one that socialized primarily around the Gio and Mano during the 1980 civil war.
He further references the All-Liberian Coalition Party which he says it’s perceived to be ethnic Mandingos response to the civil and political rights.
” Due to the politics of silence, the Liberian state has remained indifferent to these social and political maneuvers.”
The one-day policy dialogue also included a panel discussion, which featured some of Liberia’s top legal minds sharing their expertise on the significance of war and economic crimes courts.
The panel discussant included former Chief Justice Frances Morris Allison, veteran human rights lawyer Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe, Cllr. Boakai Kanneh, and Cllr. Jallah Barbu.
Their perspectives guided discussion on the legal foundation of the court, the role of archives and evidence collection, and the participation of victims and ordinary Liberians in the pursuit of criminal accountability. – Edited by Othello B. Garblah.
