By Alex Yomah
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has strongly spoken out against corruption in the country and has cautioned officials of his government to act accordingly.
He made the comments when he commissioned several heads of agencies to their respective positions in government to serve their country with due diligence.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the cabinet and Heads of Agencies held in the Executive Mansion on February 22, 2024, the President said his anyone caught will be dealt with according to the law.
He said, “Although we would have liked to have the full complement of heads of ministries, agencies, and commissions for this event, we are nevertheless delighted to commission some of the country’s experienced and dedicated women and men to start full service for the citizens.”
He furthered, “When we officially took office, we informed the country and the world that the “business as usual” approach to government would be a relic of the past for this administration, and we mean it.”
“This is why we expect nothing less than for the ministers, heads of agencies, and advisors to be commissioned today, and the others to follow later, to execute the mandate of their respective offices and perform their duties efficiently and selflessly for the public good,” Boakai said.
He described the cabinet as the highest decision-making body of the government and they must perform at the highest level, delivering on the government’s priorities to achieve the developmental agenda “we have set for the next six years”.
“We will expect ministers and heads of agencies to demonstrate their capabilities and competencies in achieving our goals, including the execution of immediate interventions in the 100-day deliverable plan.
As the government spans the three branches, we do not intend to pursue this development path without productive engagements with the other bodies. We, therefore, expect the legislature and the judiciary to do their part by fully working with us to improve the lives of our citizens.
To ensure productivity, we will work with others on a key project, the Performance Management Compliance System, to help improve performance and encourage an open, transparent, and accountable government. Integral to this is the requirement that every cabinet minister and head of agency signs a performance contract as a way of not only ensuring that deliverables are met, but also enhancing efficiency within the government.
“I am mandating all officials of government to immediately declare their assets to comply with anti-graft regulations as required, and more importantly, ensure the promotion of integrity in public service,’’ he said.
“Let it be known that we will not tolerate corruption and pilferage from the people’s coffers, as those found to be in breach of our anti-graft laws will give account and pay the price. As they say, a hint to the wise is enough,” he noted.
“We will be monitoring your performance against the targets you will set and hold you accountable. Monitoring will not only be within as we intend to support any mechanism that will ensure that citizens follow closely as well, to form part of the decision-making process. In this regard, the Citizens Feedback Mechanism Project, piloted in five counties, will be activated and implemented across the country”.
According to him, service is not an entitlement; it is an opportunity to give back to your country and your fellow citizens.
“To those about to be commissioned today, your compatriots have entrusted you with a responsibility to deliver the service they need. It is, therefore, incumbent upon you to give it everything by putting your talent and energy into what, frankly, has been described as the sweetest fruit of all –service,” he noted.
“You must rise above the privilege and trappings of your official roles and find fulfillment in the joy of genuinely transforming your country,” he ended.
