High-Level Technical Review On Proposed Amendments
Monrovia, Liberia - May 5, 2026
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐀 𝐎𝐧𝐞-𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏
A One-Day High -Level Technical Review Meeting convened by the Ministry of Justice has ended in Monrovia. The meeting intended to review the proposed amendments to the Witness Protection and Whistleblower Act of 2021. The meeting organized under the theme” Strengthening legal frameworks by increasing motivational incentives (rewards and bounties) for effective Witness Protection and Whistleblower safeguard in combating high profile corruption cases and other crimes” brought together several government agencies, development partners, Civil Society Organization, anti-graft institutions and diplomatic mission.
The High-level Technical Review Meeting aimed to holistically review and propose amendments to both the Witness Protection and the Whistleblower Acts of 2021. The review meeting was convened in response to a directive from the President of the Republic of Liberia to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. Oswald Natu Tweh, at the 3rd Cabinet Meeting of 2026 held on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
His Excellency, President Boakai, in his directive, mandated the Minister of Justice to draft amendments to the Whistleblower Act of 2021 and increase motivational incentives (rewards and bounties) for witnesses, victims and whistleblowers to encourage reporting persons/whistleblowers to make disclosures in support of the Government of Liberia’s fight to combat high-profile corruption cases, smuggling of minerals and other natural resources and other major crimes. By this action, the government seeks to ensure that Witnesses and whistleblowers are not only protected from retaliation but are also empowered to assist in the promotion of truth-seeking, justice and the rule of law.
In his opening statement, the Director of the Witness Protection Agency, Hon. Teklo Maxwell Grigsby II-Esq, extended appreciation to the President of Liberia, H.E Joseph Nyuma Boakai for the deliberate and intentional commitment to justice, encompassing transitional justice and the rule of law which embodies the protection of witnesses and whistleblowers, as a foundational pillar. “The Witness Protection Agency is both privileged and duty-bound to serve as a Co-convener of this Review Meeting alongside the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Liberia. What happens if those witnesses and whistleblowers are not protected? Needless to say, Justice suffers as a result of weak, non-existent Witness Protection System. We accept this shared institutional responsibility with the full consciousness of the obligations it imposes” Director Grigsby concluded.
For his part, Cllr. J. Augustine Toe, the Deputy Minister for Codification, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Republic of Liberia, noted that the Ministry of Justice, consistent with its mandate under the Executive Law of 1972, remains committed to providing effective public safety and legal services that uphold the rule of law, safeguard citizens, and protect the interests of the Republic of Liberia. He officially informed participants that the Technical Review Meeting was in direct response to President Boakai’s Presidential directive for the amendment of the Whistleblower Act 2021 to incorporate increase motivational incentives for Whistleblowers in combating smuggling of minerals and other natural resources, high-profile corruption, and other crimes.
He assured the meeting that the Ministry of Justice, will work in collaboration with other relevant institutions, including the Witness Protection Agency, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, Office of the Ombudsman, Governance Commission, Law Reform Commission and others to review and amend the Witness Protection Act to ensure the Witness Protection Program also covers whistleblowers. Cllr. Toe further informed the High-Level Meeting that the amendments will include punishments, and or criminal penalties for retaliatory actions, suppression and concealment of whistleblower information as well as exposure of whistleblower identity thereby leading to threats, intimidation or possible loss of lives.
In conclusion, the Deputy Minister of Justice for Codification, Cllr. J. Augustine Toe, called on the participant to focus on identifying reform priorities, close legislative gaps, and develop actionable proposals that will empower witnesses and whistleblowers, reinforce accountability, and strengthen Liberia's justice system for onward submission to the President for cabinet review and submission to the national legislature for enactment.
Also, in attendance and making remarks were Deputy Minister for Budget, Madam Tanneh Brumson, Prof. Alaric K. Tokpah, the Acting Head of the Governance Commission, Cllr. Alexandra Zoe Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, Hon. Pindarous W.T. Allison of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), United Nations Office of the High Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR) and Center for Transparency and Accountability Liberia (CENTAL). Other institutions who attended the meeting include, Office of the Ombudsman, Ministry of Labor, Office for the Establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia (OWECC-L), Representative of the Embassy of the United States of America, Liberia Anti-Trafficking Scam and Victims Support Initiatives amongst others.
In her remark, Cllr. Alexandra Zoe recognized the need to strengthen the whistleblower and witness protection laws to address existing gaps and boost transparency and public trust. The Chairperson, Cllr. Zoe, of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission stated further that approximately 35% of the corruption cases leading to investigation and subsequent prosecution resulted from whistleblower disclosures.
While Prof. Alaric K. Tokpah, Acting Chairperson of the Governance Commission pledged his institution full support to the effective governance processes including support for rule of law and the fight against corruption.
Similarly, Hon. Tanneh Brumson, Deputy Minister for Budget, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning emphasized that the technical review will narrow the gap and implementation challenges. However, she recommended that funding sources be identified in line with the national budget for providing motivational incentives for the Witnesses and Whistleblowers as proposed in the amendments.
Atty. Pindarous W. T. Allison, Commissioner of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) extended appreciation to the organizers of the meeting and informed the august body that the INCHR was fully committed to participating in the review and all the final outcome of the meeting, i.e, the amendments.
In closing remarks, representatives of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) applauded the Government of Liberia for the milestone strengthening laws aimed at protecting whistleblowers and witnesses, while the OHCHR informed the body of the UN Organ decision to recruit and deploy an International Witness Protection Expert (Consultant) at the Witness Protection Agency to support the efforts of the Government of Liberia led by the Ministry of Justice.
The One-Day High-Level Technical Review Meeting concluded with a constitution of a nine-person Technical Validation Team headed by Cllr. Frederick L.M. Gbamie of the Office for the Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court (OWECC-L) for Liberia assisted by representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, Independent National Commission on Human Rights, Witness Protection Agency and the United Nations Office of the High Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR).
The committee is tasked with the responsibility to convene on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Headquarters of the Witness Protection Agency located in Mamba Point to review the draft resolution of the High-Level Technical Review Meeting for onward submission to the Minister of Justice & Attorney General of the Republic of Liberia.