By Lincoln G. Peters
An investigation by the New Dawn Newspaper has uncovered a deepening crisis between Liberia’s Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court (OWECC).
Monrovia, October 28, 2025: This rift threatens the ongoing establishment and operation of both the War and Economic Crimes Court and the Anti-Corruption Court.
At the heart of the turmoil are severe funding delays, with staffers facing more than 5 months without pay and considering protest actions as their patience wears thin.
Sources at the OWECC say the government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, has failed to provide the necessary funds to operate the OWECC and the Anti-Corruption Court.
The situation has reached a critical juncture, as the lack of resources not only hampers daily operations but also threatens to derail progress in the fight against corruption and impunity in Liberia.
Speaking anonymously, several staffers from both the OWECC and the Anti-Corruption Court said they intend to initiate a “go-slow”—a form of protest characterized by intentionally reducing work output—if their salary situation is not urgently addressed.
The staffers emphasized that they have not received salaries for the past five months, a delay that has left many struggling to meet basic needs.
According to one staff member, “How will the office run when we are not paid on time? The Minister of Finance and Development Planning has refused to sign the budget, which is adding to our frustrations. The US$500,000 could assist in establishing the Anti-Corruption Court, but no action has been taken by the Minister.”
An authoritative source within the OWECC alleged that the Finance Minister, Augustine K. Ngafun, has not paid even the first quarter of the allocated funds for the institutions.
The source further claimed that the Minister is not communicating with the heads of OWECC-L, undermining institutional operations.
The staffers dispute the Minister’s claim that there are insufficient funds, arguing that the partial release of US$500,000 is inadequate and does not cover basic operational costs or salaries.
The alleged withholding of funds is said to be undermining the progress achieved under the leadership of OWECC’s Executive Director, Cllr. Dr. Jallah A. Barbue. Staffers note that, despite submitting revised budgets and requesting a total of US$1 million, the Ministry has approved only half that amount, which they argue is insufficient.
Due to salary delays and insufficient funding, staff have resorted to using personal credit to sustain essential operations, such as powering generators and maintaining daily activities. They described the situation as reminiscent of earlier periods when staff went unpaid for several months, triggering déjà vu and deepening employees’ frustration.
“How can we expect to fight against impunity when our basic needs are ignored?” one staff member questioned, highlighting the contradiction between the government’s stated anti-corruption mission and its failure to provide timely support to its own institutions.
When contacted for comment, Executive Director Cllr. Dr. Jallah A. Barbue stated that he was out of town on institutional matters and could not provide further details regarding the salary delays.
As frustration grows among staffers, the threat of a go-slow protest looms. The outcome of this standoff will be pivotal for Liberia’s efforts to address both past atrocities and ongoing corruption. The coming days are critical, as government action (or inaction) will determine whether the momentum in the fight against impunity is sustained or stalled.- Edited by Othello B. Garblah.
