SALALA DISTRICT, Bong County – Residents of Salala District have thrown their weight behind the establishment of Liberia’s War and Economic Crimes Court and the National Anti-Corruption Court, delivering a clear message of accountability during a reconciliation forum on Friday.
Representative Moima Briggs Mensah conveyed the district’s stance at the June 19 gathering, telling constituents that impunity must end and that perpetrators of civil-war atrocities must face justice.
“The practice of using government resources for personal gain and taking the law into one’s own hands must stop,” Mensah declared. “Especially for crimes committed during the civil war, those responsible for grave violations against humanity must be held accountable for their actions.”
Mensah reaffirmed her personal commitment to the court’s creation, vowing, “As the elected representative of the people of Salala District, I will continue to support the work of Dr. Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu and the national effort to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court and the National Anti-Corruption Court.”
The program featured keynote presentations from Dr. Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu, executive director of the Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia (OWECC-L), and Madam Esther Davis Yango, executive director of the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL).
Yango, speaking on “Women’s Participation in Grassroots Politics and Economic Empowerment,” urged local women to claim their place in governance and economic life. “Women deserve a special place in Liberia’s democratic governance, and their rights must be protected,” Yango said. “Women must also be involved in decision-making processes and key development initiatives to ensure they enjoy the same opportunities as men.”
Barbu, addressing “Conflict Resolution in Politics,” stressed that genuine peace requires accountability.
“The only way conflicts can truly be resolved is when individuals acknowledge their wrongdoing and accept responsibility for their actions,” Barbu said. He called on residents to engage political opponents peacefully, adding, “I encourage the people of Salala District to continue engaging political opponents in a civil manner and avoid returning to the dark days of conflict.”
In a closing statement, Mensah praised the reconciliation process and underscored its importance to national stability. “Political accountability remains essential to Liberia’s development, and initiatives such as this reconciliation program organized by Representative Mensah play a vital role in promoting unity and peace,” she said.
The event drew a broad cross-section of the district, including women, youth, elders, and local stakeholders, as part of an ongoing push to weave reconciliation, democratic participation, and anti-corruption efforts into the fabric of Liberian society.
