The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) was today awarded as the ‘Accountability Campaigner of the Year 2022’ by the Global News Network, Incorporated (GNN-Liberia).

The award, according to GNN-Liberia, was based on the invaluable contributions being made by CENTAL to promote transparency and accountability as well as its passionate desire for good governance and democracy in Liberia during the year, 2022.

Founded in 2004, CENTAL is a national civil society organization that has been leading efforts aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity across all sectors of Liberia. It’s the national Chapter of Transparency International, the global network against corruption with networks and chapters in over 120 countries worldwide.

The Annual Personality Award Program held at the YMCA in Monrovia on Friday, January 13, 2023, was organized by the GNN-Liberia to recognize individuals and institutions that played meaningful roles towards the growth and development of Liberia during the year, 2022.

Meanwhile, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson D. Miamen has lauded the GNN-Liberia for the award and dedicated the accolade to the board and staff of CENTAL who continue to stand in the vanguard to fight corruption and promote the culture of transparency, accountability, and integrity in Liberia.

Director Miamen said the award is a motivation as well as a challenge to CENTAL and its staff to increase the demand for transparency, and accountability and to promote the culture of integrity across all sectors of Liberia.

 

The CENTAL’s Executive Director called on public officials to lead by example and work in the interest of the country and its people and not themselves. He also urged the people of Liberia to stand up and demand accountability from their leaders.

Miamen used the occasion to reiterate CENTAL’s position on the violation of fundamental constitutional safeguards such as the separation of powers by Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe and the Bomi Legislative Caucus in the Western Cluster Concession saga.

He stated that the involvement of Senator Snowe and the Bomi Legislative Caucus in negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes a serious conflict of interest on the part of the Legislators who have an even higher responsibility of oversight regarding matters such as concessions.

The negotiations around the Western Cluster Concession in Bomi County have understandably generated tension between citizens of Bomi County and their leaders on the one hand, and Bomi County and the company itself (Western Cluster Limited) on the other hand.

The MOU, according to Miamen, undermines the 2011 Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) between the Republic of Liberia and Western Cluster Liberia Limited as it evades lawful taxes in millions of dollars owed by Western Cluster to the Government of Liberia, and approves potential environmental hazards posed by Western Cluster operations via trucking of minerals from Bomi through the Freeport of Monrovia.