MONROVIA, LIBERIA — Justice Minister-designate Cllr. Betty M. Lamine Blamo has pledged to ensure that criminal prosecutions in Liberia are based strictly on evidence and the law, warning against the use of state prosecutorial powers to target political opponents or protect individuals with influence.
Speaking during her confirmation proceedings before the Liberian Senate, Blamo acknowledged public concerns about the potential politicization of the justice system, assuring lawmakers that decisions to prosecute would not be influenced by political affiliation, county of origin, wealth, or social status.
“I take this concern seriously,” she said, emphasizing that prosecutors must act professionally and independently when determining whether a case should proceed.
“A case will be brought because the evidence supports it and for no other reason. And a case will not be brought, however loud the demand, where the evidence does not support it,” Blamo added.
She said that if confirmed as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, she would not permit personal relationships or political considerations to determine who faces prosecution.
“If I am confirmed, I will not be a minister who prosecutes adversaries with zeal and friends with reluctance,” she told senators.
Blamo also pledged to openly disclose conflicts of interest and recuse herself from matters in which her impartiality could be questioned.
Her commitment comes amid broader concerns about public confidence in Liberia’s justice system and the need to ensure equal treatment under the law.
According to the minister-designate, the credibility of the justice system depends on applying the law consistently, regardless of an individual’s political connections or social standing.
She argued that a justice system that operates fairly provides citizens with confidence that disputes can be resolved through the courts rather than through confrontation.
Blamo further emphasized that the Ministry of Justice must remain accountable for its decisions while supporting the government’s policy agenda under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
She told the Senate that, if confirmed, she would be accountable to the President, the Legislature, and the Liberian people.
Beyond prosecutorial neutrality, Blamo identified weaknesses in coordination between police investigators and prosecutors as a major obstacle to effective criminal justice administration.
She said incomplete investigations, poorly preserved evidence, and charges that do not match established facts have contributed to the collapse of criminal cases.
To address these challenges, she pledged to assess the prosecution department’s capacity, improve professional standards, and strengthen coordination among law enforcement institutions.
Blamo also appealed to lawmakers for budgetary support to recruit additional prosecutors and improve the salaries of existing personnel, citing the departure of experienced prosecutors following salary harmonization.
She maintained that well-trained and adequately supported prosecutors are essential to ensuring that criminal cases are properly prepared, victims receive justice, and the rights of accused persons are protected.
Her proposed approach places prosecutorial fairness, institutional accountability, and stronger investigations at the center of her plans for the Ministry of Justice, subject to Senate confirmation.
Blamo Vows Politically Neutral Prosecutions if Confirmed as Justice Minister
