Liberia's US$4.9 million debt owed various financial institutions, now waived, affected its integrity relative to borrowing,World Bank country Manager Ohene Owusu Nyanin said Wednesday.

"The debt was something that did not go well for Liberia's integrity," he said noting its waiver requires celebration but warned, the post HIPC era would be challenging.

The World Bank official said government should establish an effective system that will eventually straighten financial and economic governance and tackle corruption head on.

He said corruption undermines development and subjects the country to abject poverty with the poor being its prime victims.

Mr.Owusu Nyanin made these statements at the official launch of the National Integrity Forum in Monrovia.

The Forum, according to its crafters, is designed to support the fight against corruption and establish integrity standards in government and private institution. It consists of both public and private institutions including the General Auditing Commission and the Press Union of Liberia.

United States Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield has however admonished members not to reduce the organization to an 'empty talk shop" but one that will practically ensure there exist a society and government with high degree of integrity.