–Following Chief Justice Gbersay’s Mandate
By G. Bennie Bravo Johnson, I.
Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia’s Chief Justice His Honor Yammie Quiqui Gbersay has ordered the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to conduct a comprehensive audit of the administration of his predecessor, former Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, as part of a sweeping reform agenda aimed at restoring public trust and accountability in the Judiciary.
Speaking at the formal opening of the October Term of Courtat the Supreme Court in Monrovia, Chief Justice Gbersay said the audit is not an act of witch-hunting but a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to transparency, good governance, and international best practices.
“Far from witch-hunting, but consistent with promoting the integrity of the judiciary and in line with international best practice, this administration on September 4, 2025, invited the General Auditing Commission to commission an audit of the immediate past administration’s stewardship,” he said.
He emphasized that the audit seeks to dispel public perceptionsthat all public officials are corrupt, stressing that accountability must begin at the top of the judicial system. Chief Justice Gbersay also issued a 30-day ultimatum to all judges and magistrates who have not declared their assets to do so or face administrative consequences.
“We deem it proper to do so for the sake of the record, because in this country, the general notion is that everyone who serves in government is corrupt. We have also instructed all our judges and magistrates who have not declared their assets to do so within thirty (30) days or face administrative action,” he warned.
In a bid to reinforce internal oversight, the Chief Justice announced the creation of a new division known as the Judicial Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability Unit (JME&AU).
The unit will function as a judicial watchdog—monitoring court activities, ensuring compliance with procedures, and holding judicial officers accountable for their conduct.
He said the JME&AU will have the authority to visit courts unannounced, observe proceedings, review case records, and even take photographs or recordings when necessary to verify proper judicial practices.
“The JME&AU will be empowered to visit all courts with or without notice, observe court proceedings, check court records, and ensure that legitimate fines and fees are properly collected and accounted for,” Gbersay stated.
“In other words, the JME&AU, under my administration, will be a powerful judicial police ensuring performance and accountability. Corruption must go—or corrupt people must go!”
Family Court to Address Domestic and Child-Related Cases
In addition to accountability reforms, Chief Justice Gbersay revealed plans to establish a Family and Children Court to address domestic disputes and child-related cases in a more specialized and humane manner.
Currently, family-related matters such as marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, and support are scattered across different courts—including the Probate, Civil Law, and Juvenile Courts—which he said are already overburdened and lack the expertise to handle such sensitive cases.
“There exists an urgent need for a Family Court,” the Chief Justice said.
“We call upon our national and international development partners to support this effort. The Judiciary, as the end user of the law, is best positioned to identify and address the challenges faced in interpreting and applying it.”
He disclosed that a judicial committee has been constituted to draft a bill for submission to the Legislature through the Executive Branch to formalize the establishment of the Family Court.
Chief Justice Gbersay also disclosed findings from a credential and personnel audit conducted by the Civil Service Agency (CSA) at the Judiciary. The audit uncovered significant salary disparities, ghost names, and staff beyond retirement age.
“Some staff of the Judiciary, without justification, had their salaries and benefits raised far above their supervisors performing the same job,” he noted.
“Under my watch, this will not be tolerated. Corrections and reclassifications have already begun under the supervision of the CSA.”
He confirmed that staff not accounted for have been removed from the payroll, while those beyond retirement age have been notified that their contracts will not extend beyond December 31, 2025.
The Chief Justice’s sweeping reforms—ranging from financial audits and personnel verification to the establishment of the Family Court—reflect a broader mission to restore the credibility of Liberia’s justice system. His message was clear: accountability, transparency, and integrity will define the new era of judicial leadership.
“The Judiciary must lead by example,” Chief Justice Gbersay concluded.
“We will ensure that justice is not only done but is seen to be done—fairly, transparently, and without fear or favor.”
