Ahead Of Int’l Anti-Corruption Day: U.S. State Department Awards Marc Kollie Anti-Corruption Champion

The former Chief Investigator of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Marc Kollie, has been honored an Anti-Corruption Champion by the U.S. Department of State.

The Department of State Anti-Corruption Champions Award (ACCA) Ceremony was held on Thursday, December 7, 2023 in Washington, D.C., and recognized eleven honorees from around the world, highlighting the United States’ efforts to support brave individuals who counter corruption across the globe.

The Anti-Corruption Champions Award (ACCA) recognizes individuals who have demonstrated leadership, courage and impact in preventing, exposing, and combating corruption. It was launched in February 2021 by the US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, to demonstrate the Biden Administration’s commitment to countering corruption. To date, 32 individuals have been recognized for their efforts to promote accountability in their countries.

Specifically, Kollie was honored for demonstrating unparalleled dedication to holding corrupt officials accountable. “His tireless work in scrutinizing Liberia’s powerful political elite, even in the face of potential risks, underscores his unwavering commitment to integrity and justice,” the US embassy noted in a Facebook post.

Addressing the ceremony on Thursday, Secretary Blinken said, “Take any goal of our foreign policy, anything that we really care about—expanding economic opportunity, empowering underserved communities, enhancing security, defending human rights—all of them are served by building more accountable institutions, more accountable societies, more transparency. So we have an abiding interest in rooting out corruption, both to improve lives in local communities and to build more prosperous, more secure, more rights respecting partners for the American people.”

According to Secretary Blinken, “As a Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission investigator, Marc Kollie led a series of investigations that uncovered bribery of powerful politicians in exchange for favors. Despite being threatened, Marc pursued his work. He testified in the case, and then went on to lead other groundbreaking investigations, including one in which he froze bank accounts being used by organized crime to launder money. His effort demonstrated how a few committed individuals can turn government institutions from sources of corruption into sources of accountability.”

Marc Kollie is the former Chief of Investigations at the LACC, who served the anti-graft entity for about a decade. He also served as Manager for Legal Analysis and Preliminary Investigations at the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA). He holds bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice administration and law, and a master’s degree in anti-corruption studies.

Kollie is credited for the arrest of Adolph Lawrence in a contract inflation scheme, testified in the Global Witness (GW) case leading to the discovery of “Big Boy 1” and “Big Boy 2”, testified against Brownie Samukai in the AFL pension scheme leading to his conviction, froze several accounts linked to money laundering leading to the recovery of funds, among others.

His award comes only a day to the celebration of the International Anti-Corruption Day in Liberia.

President George Manneh Weah has, meanwhile, issued a Proclamation declaring Saturday, December 9, 2023 as International Anti-Corruption Day, to be celebrated on Friday, December 8, 2023 throughout the territorial confines of the Republic as a working holiday.

The Proclamation calls on ministries and agencies of government, local and international organizations, the United Nations organs in Liberia, civil society organizations and the general public, civil society organizations, and the National Integrity Forum to join the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to plan and execute appropriate programs befitting the occasion.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, this year’s celebration, which marks the 20th commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day Campaign in Liberia, will be celebrated under the theme, “Uniting the World against Corruption for Peace, Security and Development”.

According to the release, the significance of the observance is to raise awareness about corruption and promote anti-corruption campaign activities, including the role of the “United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)”, in combating and preventing corruption.

“The General Assembly of the United Nations on October 31, 2003 unanimously designated December 9th each year as International Anti-Corruption Day when it adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), to be observed by Member States,” the Proclamation noted.

The Proclamation further stated that corruption in both public and private sectors of a nation undermines the national and international framework of good governance which seeks to promote economic development.

In August 2008, the Government of the Republic of Liberia established the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission through an Act of the Legislature, developed a policy framework and a comprehensive strategy that outline the preventive, educational and enforcement measures to combat corruption in Liberia, the release added.