afrol News, 4 December - Liberian president has today called for practical strategies to root out widespread corruption in the West African state.

In a state address today, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said Liberia is overwhelmed by corruption in both public and private sectors saying, corruption has become a reality that Liberians should face if they are to win the struggle against it.

"Most of the institutions of the Liberian government have inherited corrupt criminalised value systems that are so entrenched that some seem irredeemable," Ms Sirleaf said.

Ms Sirleaf who vowed to crack down on corruption when she took office in 2006, has admitted that corruption is still rife in her country calling for more concerted efforts in the fight against corruption.

She said Liberia has not succumbed to corruption citing examples of ministry and Central Bank officials who have been either suspended or dismissed based on corruption allegations and conviction.

The President also said fighting corruption needed a holistical approach rather than emotional responses.

Liberia is still trying to get back on its feet after being ravaged by civil war between 1989-2003 which left the economy in shambles.

Around 250,000 people were killed in Liberia's civil war and many thousands more fled the fighting. The conflict left the country in economic ruin and overrun with weapons.

By staff writer

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