By Bill W. Cooper
With over 100 days into the Unity Party (UP)-led administration, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has disclosed that of the 500 appointments made by President Joseph Boakai, only 75 officials, including legislators, have declared their assets so far.
The decision, accordingly, is in total violation of section 10.1 of the Code of Conduct of 2014 and Section 10.2(h) of the Amended Code of Conduct, including President Joseph Boakai’s pledge of his unwavering support and desire to fight and uproot corruption in Liberia.
Section 10.1 of the Code of Conduct of 2014 requires every public official and employee of government involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering, or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types, to sign performance or financial bonds, and in addition, to declare his or her income, assets, and liabilities prior to taking office.
Section 10.2(h) of the Amended Code of Conduct provides that an official appointed by the President shall declare his/her assets not less than 30 days after appointment, and that failure to comply shall result in immediate suspension from office until full compliance is obtained.
LACC is tasked with investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption and promoting good governance and accountability in the country, as the declaration of assets by public officials is a key component to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure government officials do not use their positions for personal gain.
It can be recalled that the LACC, through its Chairperson, Alexandria Zoe, set December 12, 2023 as the deadline for outgoing officials of government to declare their assets, in keeping with the Code of Conduct, a crucial mechanism implemented by the government to track and monitor the financial activities of officials who are leaving their positions after service, as those taking on public offices.
The declaration further aims to ensure that public servants are accountable for their wealth and assets, preventing illicit gains or corruption when serving in government, but the deadline has since expired and with the non-compliance from a huge majority of government officials, concerns have now been raised about the Boakai government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
In a statement issued yesterday by the LACC in Monrovia, the Commission noted that the low rate of asset declaration among government officials is a cause for concern, as it might be seen as a red flag for potential corruption.
The LACC further emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in government, and stated, “The fight against corruption requires the cooperation of all stakeholders, including public officials, in order to ensure that public resources are used for the benefit of all Liberians.”
The Commission is, at the same time, calling on all government officials to comply with the law and declare their assets in a timely manner, and stressed that failure to comply shall result in immediate suspension from office until full compliance is obtained.
“The LACC wishes to inform all public officials and employees of the Government of Liberia of its ongoing Assets Declaration exercise to declare their income, assets, and liabilities in keeping with the law,” the release stated.
According to the LACC, it is currently taking steps to track compliance, as well as non-compliance with the above-mentioned provisions, noting that a comprehensive listing will be generated and published on May 15, 2024.
The Commission maintained, “The LACC will also recommend and request relevant authorities to execute appropriate sanctions against non-compliant public officials and employees of the government, in keeping with the Section 10.3 of the National Code of Conduct.”
“In view of the above, the LACC calls on all public officials and employees of the Government of Liberia to immediately proceed to the Commission and declare their assets in keeping with law, as all concerned officials are asked to take note and act accordingly to avoid any future embarrassment,” the release added.
