WPA Moves Against Whistleblower Retaliation, Targets Complaints Involving Officials

The Witness Protection Agency says it will begin hearing complaints of alleged retaliation against whistleblowers, including complaints involving officials of Liberia’s current administration, as it moves to strengthen protection for people who expose corruption and other wrongdoing.

The disclosure was made Thursday during a one-day dialogue organized with support from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to examine Liberia’s legal and operational framework for protecting victims, witnesses and whistleblowers.

Director of the Witness Protection Agency, Attorney Maxwell Grisby, said people who come forward with information should not be punished or intimidated for making legally protected disclosures.

“No one should be afraid to testify, particularly when their testimony is intended to expose wrongdoing and help secure justice,” Grisby said.

He said Liberia’s Whistleblower Protection Law provides safeguards for employees in both the public and private sectors who report acts of corruption.

Grisby disclosed that the Witness Protection Agency, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, will handle complaints involving alleged retaliation against whistleblowers.

He stressed that public defenders and other justice-sector actors must understand that whistleblowers are protected by law and should not face punishment for reporting wrongdoing.

The WPA Director is also calling for stronger incentives to encourage whistleblowers to provide information that helps recover public resources.

According to Grisby, a person whose information contributes to the recovery of up to US$1 million in state resources could receive a 10-percent reward, potentially amounting to US$100,000.

He cited corruption, substance abuse and sexual and gender-based violence as areas requiring serious attention, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to combating crime.

Meanwhile, Christian Mukosa, Country Representative of the UN Human Rights Office, says witness protection should not be limited to physical security.

“The well-being of witnesses and other vulnerable persons must be incorporated into protection mechanisms,” Mukosa said.

Mukosa said the dialogue provides an opportunity to identify risks, weaknesses and gaps in Liberia’s existing protection framework.

He noted that some people involved in legal proceedings may simultaneously be victims and witnesses, requiring justice institutions to consider their psychological and emotional well-being alongside their physical safety.

The dialogue brought together stakeholders from the justice and security sectors to discuss international lessons and best practices for developing a human rights-based approach to witness protection.