Monrovia, Liberia - Tuesday, June 30, 2026
The Acting Chairperson of the Governance Commission, Professor Alaric K. Tokpa, has called for stronger collaboration among government, civil society, and the private sector to fight money laundering and other financial crimes, describing financial intelligence as central to governance.
Prof. Tokpa made the remarks Tuesday in Monrovia during the official launch of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) of Liberia Strategic Plan 2026-2031. He said illicit financial flows, terrorist financing, corruption, and fraud help to move money illegally. “They undermine public revenue, distort markets, weaken legitimate businesses, threaten national security, and reduce confidence in the state. Therefore, protecting the financial system means protecting the Republic of Liberia", he stated.
The GC Acting Chair traced the FIA’s mandate to its role as a guardian of integrity and a central pillar of Liberia’s governance architecture. He noted that the Agency’s mission aligns with Pillar 4, the Governance and Anti-Corruption Pillar of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, by monitoring financial flows, enforcing accountability, and aligning Liberia with international standards.
Acknowledging past setbacks, Prof. Tokpa said the FIA was once weakened and misused to conceal irregular practices. He however praised the agency under the leadership of Hon. Mohammed A. Nasser for restoring the lost image of the institution, citing recent sanctions, warnings to non-compliant entities, and probes into sectoral irregularities.
Prof. Tokpa highlighted the FIA’s partnerships with GIABA, FATF, and the Egmont Group, stressing that most financial crimes are transnational and require integrated responses. He said the Strategic Plan is not a formality but a covenant with the Liberian people that ties the FIA’s work to performance management contracts to ensure reforms are tracked and evaluated.
Prof. Tokpa urged all agencies to move from institutional teamwork to national coordination, and called on civil society to raise awareness, the private sector to strengthen compliance, and international partners to sustain support.
Prof. Tokpa concluded by pledging the Governance Commission commitment to the FIA through collaboration, expressing hope that the plan will help build a Liberia where public resources serve the public good.
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