By Bill W. Cooper
President Joseph Boakai says it is best that officials choose between their government positions and party roles.
Reechoing his commitment to good governance and ethical conduct in public service, the Liberians leader sternly warned his cabinet to either resign now or risk being dismissed for indiscipline.
His calls, however come in the wake of growing concerns regarding conflicts of interest and the intertwining of political party affiliations with government responsibilities which critics believe is against the Code of Conduct.
During his cabinet retreat yesterday in Congo Town, the President emphasized, “It is imperative that we maintain the integrity of our government by doing that which we promised our people.”
He maintained, “Officials must choose whether they want to serve the people of Liberia in their official capacity or continue to hold positions within their political parties. The two cannot coexist without compromising our mission to serve the public.”
He has at the same warned that the issue has been a longstanding issue in Liberia, where political patronage and party loyalty often overshadow the principles of public service and good governance.
Meanwhile, in addition to the ultimatum regarding party affiliations, President Boakai has also emphasized the need for all appointed government officials to declare their assets to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) in keeping with law.
Recently, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) reported that 73.5% of 1,900 public officials have not declared their assets and liabilities, as Article 91 of the Liberian Constitution requires.
Article 91 mandates that high-ranking public officials, including the President, Vice President, members of the Legislature, and other officials designated by law, to declare their assets and liabilities to promote transparency and prevent conflicts of interest, corruption, and abuse of power.
LACC’s Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandria Zoe, revealed that, according to their regulations, they have identified 1,900 government employees and officials who are required to declare their assets. However, as of July 31, 2024, only 26.5% were compliant, leaving 73.5% non-compliant.
“In the Legislative branch, of the 73 elected Representatives, only 26 were compliant, while 47 were not. Among the 56 House of Representatives administrative staff, only one complied,” Zoe said.
She revealed that in the Senate, out of 30 elected Senators, only 12 were compliant, and none of the 44 identified administrative staff complied.
Cllr. Zoe further pointed out that of the 1,281 appointed officials required to declare their assets in the Executive Branch, only 322 fully complied, while 959 were non-compliant while 84 asset declarations were received from non-appointed government employees, bringing the total from the Executive Branch to 406.
“In the Judiciary, of the 333 required to declare, only 29 officials complied, including 7 judges and 21 administrative staff, while 305 were non-compliant,” the LACC Boss added.
But the President warned that failure to comply with this requirement would result in immediate dismissal from their positions, and asserted, “Transparency is not just a lip service; it is a fundamental principle of governance.”
“So, I am calling on every official here today and across the entire government to ensure a full declaration of their assets to ensure that we are all held accountable for our actions and decisions,” he maintained.
The asset declaration requirement is part of a broader initiative to combat corruption and promote ethical behavior within the government especially officials coming in and leaving government.
Liberia has struggled with corruption for decades but President Boakai has once again renewed his government’s commitment in ensuring that his administration is determined to take a firm stance against act of corruption in public offices.
The President maintained that his decision is aimed at creating a culture of accountability and discouraging illicit enrichment among public officials, a menace that has damaged the country for decades.
