The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has set July 31, 2024, as new deadline of for all government officials to declare their assets; extending the initial timeframe for compliance.
The declaration, according to law must be done within 30 days of appointment, a rule that many officials have ignored by past and current administrations since the end of the country 14 years of civil war.
LACC’s Chairperson Alexandria Zoe narrated that their latest extension of the date and the increase in compliance are steps forward, but the challenge remains substantial and expressed optimism that officials of government would take advantage of the date.
It can be recalled that since the initial announcement a month ago, when only 75 out of 500 officials declared their assets, there has been a rapid increase in compliance; this surge suggests that public officials are beginning to take the matter more seriously.
But Zoe further revealed a concerning trend of non-compliance among government officials regarding asset declaration since the inception of Joseph Boakai’s government.
Appearing at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing, Cllr. Zoe noted that only 207 out of 500 officials have complied with the mandate to declare their assets, highlighting that about 60 percent of officials have yet to fulfill this crucial obligation.
She also emphasized that the pronouncement made by her office is aimed at strengthening governance and igniting the fight against corruption in Liberia as despite this goal, the current rate of compliance is alarmingly low.
However, there has been some progress as the number of government officials declaring their assets as they have risen from 15 percent to 40 percent in recent months in spite of the recent disclosure from the LACC.
According to her, asset declaration is a legal and ethical requirement for public officials owing to the fact that the Liberia Code of Conduct mandates that all government officials to declare their assets upon assuming, leaving or promotion to another office.
Cllr. Zoe noted that the 207 declarations received cover officials in the Legislature and the Executive branch only, stressing the need for agencies and corporations headed by government officials to join this compliance effort swiftly.
She, at the same time, clarified that the LACC is not obligated to publicly announce the names of officials who have declared their assets, as it is in line with the LACC Law, which makes it optional for individuals to disclose their declarations publicly.
She added that the LACC under her watch is committed to ensuring that all officials comply with the asset declaration requirement, as it is a critical component of accountability and transparency in governance.
She added that while there has been progress, the latest pronouncement underscores the urgent need for full compliance with asset declaration laws to bolster good governance and combat corruption effectively in Liberia.
