The Womem Non-Governmental Organizations Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) says it wants corruption awareness programs in the communities.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Director of WONGOSOL, Esther S. Davis Yango, at the launch of the 2025 state of corruption report by the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) Wednesday at a local hotel in Sinkor, the Board Chairperson of WONGOSOL, Nelly S. Cooper, said WONGOSOL believes that corruption is not simply about stolen money or mismanaged public resources; corruption is about people, justice, dignity and whether citizens can access services and opportunities they deserve, noting that for many Liberians corruption is experienced every single day.
“It is women who leaves their families before dawn to conduct cross-border trade so they can provide food and school fees for their children, only to be subjected to illegal fees, intimidation, harassment or unnecessary delays at our border crossings by some officials from customs, immigration or other security agencies,” she said.
She pointed out that it is the female farmer who cannot transport her produce to the market without facing unnecessary demands along the way.
Cooper noted that it is the women seeking justice whose case moves only when they are able to pay unofficial fees, or worse, when they are subjected to inappropriate demands.
She asserted that, sadly, it is the young women who are made to believe that access to employment, education, scholarship or public services depends not on her qualifications, competence, or hard work, but on granting sexual favors, relying on personal connections or making unofficial payments.
“It is corruption, an abuse of power and a form of gender-based violence that has no place in our society,” Cooper explained.
According to her, these experiences may not always appear in official statistics, but they shape how citizens view public institutions, adding that they erode confidence, deepen poverty, discourage investment and weaken our democracy.
“Corruption wears many faces, sometimes it steals millions from the national budget, other times it steals dignity from a market women, hope from a young graduate, justice from a survivor, medicine from a sick child, or opportunities from an entire community. Every form of corruption deserves our attention because every form robs Liberians pf their rights,” she asserted.
Meanwhile, WONGOSOL boss has expressed concerned about the reported disappearance of drugs and medical supplies.
She maintained that this matter goes beyond financial accountability, as every missing box of medicine could mean a child goes untreated, or a pregnant woman is denied essential care because lifesaving treatment is unavailable.
She stated that as civil society, they respectfully call on the government to ensure a transparent, independent and timely investigation, adding that the Liberian people deserve answers.
