By Our Staff Writer
NEW YORK: Addressing the U.S. Congressional Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing Friday, October 20, 2023, the United States of America’s Ambassador-designate to Liberia, has pledged to tackle corruption in Liberia.
Mark Toner assured that the United Embassy near Monrovia shall lead efforts to hold corrupt government officials accountable and keep Liberia on a path to self-reliance, so that ordinary Liberians see the benefits of private-sector growth and accountable government.
Similarly, when his predecessor, Ambassador Michael McCarthy, previously went for confirmation hearing; he vowed to fight corruption in Liberia. Every branch of the US government has pointed to corruption in Liberia; some termed it as “kleptocracy”.
“We must apply this same approach to human rights, as Liberia’s justice sector works to address reported cases of gender-based violence, forced child labor, and human trafficking, as well as the legacy of war crimes. These abuses must be confronted for their own sake, as well as to ensure a broader system of accountability, good governance, and rule of law,” he said.
“If confirmed, I look forward to building on the outstanding work the previous Ambassador and his excellent team has done to assist with the many challenges facing Liberia. I am optimistic the United States can work with its partners in the Liberian government and people to help strengthen their democracy and secure a brighter, more prosperous future for the next generation.” Ambassador Mark Toner told the U.S. Congressional Foreign Relations Committee.
The US Ambassador-designate told members of the Congressional Foreign Relations Committee that he would endeavor a more closer working relationship between Members of this Congressional Foreign Relations Committee and staff to promote and protect U.S. interests in Liberia.
He recounted his longstanding working relationship with Liberia health experts as a Peace Corps-stressing that his return to Liberia is an honor to resuscitate the longstanding relationship between Liberia and the Unitec States.
“I have a strong personal connection with Liberia, having served there as a Peace Corps Volunteer – a formative experience that kindled my desire to become a Foreign Service Officer. During that time, I had the privilege to work alongside many dedicated Liberian health professionals, people who showed up every day to work under difficult circumstances without any guarantee of a regular paycheck. These are the people who inspired me to this day through their commitment, courage, and determination.”
“If confirmed, it would be an honor to return as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, a country with which the United States shares a special bond rooted in our deep historical ties, and preserved through our shared commitment to democracy, human rights, health security, economic prosperity, and regional stability.” Ambassador Mark Toner recounted.
Touching on Liberia’s democratic credentials, Ambassador Toner said while Liberia is also a country shaped by years of conflict, terror, disease, and hardship, the resilience of the Liberia people in 2017, was a significant milestone by carrying out the first peaceful transition of power between two elected presidents in over 70 years.
On the October 10 Presidential and Legislative Elections, Ambassador Mark Toner reminded both President George Manneh and his main challenger Joseph N. Boakai, of the opposition Unity Party of commitments made to ensure the holding of a Free, Fair, and transparent elections in Liberia-warning that the United States, and our partners are doing everything in their power to hold President Weah and Boakai accountable for delivering on their commitment.
“The United States is the largest bilateral donor to Liberia, with more than $5 billion in bilateral assistance since 2003. That assistance has paid concrete dividends in the economic, education, security, and public health sectors, but that progress has also been heavily eroded by growing lawlessness and corruption within the present administration.” Ambassador statement at the U.S. Congressional Foreign Relations Committee emphasized.
His predecessor, Ambassador Michael McCarthy, was staunch critic of the Weah-led government for poorly governing affairs of the states, accusing unfair distribution of the country’s wealth as a result of wanton corruption amongst public officials, leading to rural residents struggling to feel the impacts of central government’s development initiatives.
“Liberian elites in government are treating their destitute citizens in the leeward counties with neglect”, says U.S. Ambassador Michael McCarthy following the climax of his county tour.
He said back then: “I’ve said this before: one cannot know Liberia if you only stay in Monrovia. I’m excited to spend time outside of the capital and to see the various projects that the U.S. Mission is working on in partnership with Liberians to help deliver better health care, education, and economic development.
“Unfortunately, on the trip I was startled and deeply troubled to encounter multiple county hospitals that received not one penny of what they were promised in the 2022 budget. Hospitals on which lives depend, where outbreaks are prevented and suffering is alleviated, did not receive any portion of the US$100,000 or more appropriated by the legislature for them to operate,” he said in a strong-worded press statement issued by the U.S. Embassy.
Liberia is rich in mineral resources with abundant water and large forest, but majority of its citizens live below the poverty line. Its politics is in the framework of a presidential representative democratic republic modeled after the United States, whereby the President is the head of state and head of government.
But unlike the United States, Liberia is a unitary state with one fiscal budget that is controlled and expended by the Executive through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, but with the approval of the Legislature which makes the appropriation, and monitors the expenditure of the appropriated funds through its oversight responsibilities.
In the last five years, public facilities including hospitals, schools and civil centers which should have been the main drivers of the government’s decentralization policy complained of not receiving its entire approved budget, making the operation of these facilities difficult.
