The leadership of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) has held two separate meetings with the United States Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Michael A. McCarthy, and the UNDP Resident Representative and Coordinator of UN Operations in Liberia, Stephen Rodriques.
During the meeting with Ambassador McCarthy and team at the US Embassy near Monrovia, LNBA President, Cllr. Taiwan Gongloe, briefed the ambassador about the level of work the Bar is undertaking, particularly as it relates to access to justice through its five Legal Aid Clinics, the building of a transparent financial system that has enabled the Bar to move toward financial independence and the Bar’s advocacy for accountability through the establishment of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia.
According to a LNBA release, Cllr. Gongloe emphasized the need for direct USAID support to the LNBA, assuring Ambassador McCarthy that the LNBA has a strong institutional framework for accountability that was built with support from LPAC. He said, with direct USAID support the LNBA will extend its Legal Aid Clinics to the remaining ten counties of Liberia and assign lawyers in those counties to enhance access to justice.
Speaking, Ambassador McCarthy assured the LNBA that the US Embassy is interested in supporting organizations that subscribe to strengthening the rule of law and accountability, and creating an enabling environment where private Liberian citizens can work and achieve their full potentials.
Ambassador McCarthy acknowledged the LNBA as having the reputation of promoting rule of law, and said that the United States is interested in such organizations.
In a related development, the LNBA on Thursday, April 22, 2021 received the UNDP Resident Representative and UN Coordinator in Liberia, Stephen Rodriques, the Deputy Resident Representative for Program, Violet Beffour, and the Team Leader of the Governance and Public Institution, James P. Monibah, at the Bar’s office on Ashmun Street, Monrovia.
During the meeting, the LNBA, in similar fashion, updated the UNDP Resident Representative and team about the progressive engagements with strengthening rule of law. The Bar noted that, with rule of law at the epicenter of its activities, it is becoming financially vibrant, and entertained the hope that the national governance architecture can use rule of law to make Liberia economically vibrant.
LNBA President Gongloe further briefed the UNDP team about the need to support the Bar’s access to justice program through the Legal Aid Clinics, as well as the LNBA’s stance against impunity through the advocacy for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court, in order to bring closure to the narrative of the Liberian civil war.
Responding, the UNDP Resident Representative, Stephen Rodriques pledged the UNDP’s support to the LNBA’s quest for adherence to the rule of law, access to justice and its call for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia.