The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) is calling on President Joseph Boakai to go beyond mere pronouncements and take concrete actions to combat corruption and impunity in Liberia.
The group also highlighted the importance of implementing measures that strengthen transparency and accountability in government institutions, something they stressed has been lacking, hindering development, and undermining public trust in governance.
CENTAL Executive Director, Anderson D. Miamen, in a statement issued over the weekend, stated that leaders before Boakai all recognized that corruption is a plague and made several declarations against it, but did little to match those pronouncements with actions.
Miamen noted that said inertia has largely contributed to Liberia’s dismal show in major indices, including the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Transparency International, showing a massive decline in the country’s score from 41 in 2012 to 25 in 2023.
According to him, due to the lack of prosecution, rampant allegations of corruption, lack of political will, and lack of transparency have also left majority of citizens to believe that government’s commitment to tackling corruption is low and ineffective.
This, he asserted, “For instance, government has failed to investigate and prosecute former and current government officials sanctioned by the United States Government for involvement in significant public sector corruption.”
“And besides, corruption allegations involving high-profile public officials have been lingering for many years, with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission not doing enough to either complete those investigations or prosecute the accused,” the CENTAL Boss noted.
Miamen stressed, “So, Mr. President, the responsibility is now yours to reverse this negative trend, and this is because you have made very strong commitments to do so, during the election and recently, while delivering your inaugural address in Monrovia.”
“Like all previous governments, we look forward to working with your administration to enhance the fight against corruption, especially by making impunity for corruption an issue of the past and prosperity for the future,” he assured.
Meanwhile, CENTAL is also recommending to President Boakai to see the need to lead by example, thus setting high standards for his officials and others to follow, and indicated that there can be no successful fight against corruption if the Presidency does not lead by example, in words and in practice.
CENTAL is also calling on the President to support public integrity institutions, pointing out that if the Boakai administration must succeed in the fight against corruption, anti- graft institutions must not be left to fight alone.
CENTAL also wants President Boakai to timely establish the office of Ombudsman to oversee implementation of the Code of Conduct for public officials, coupled with the timely and impartial investigation and prosecution of corruption complaints/cases, on grounds thatimpunity for corruption remains very high in Liberia, thus undermining the fight against corruption.
“There is also the need for President Boakai to investigate and prosecute former government officials sanctioned for corruption by the United States Government, as well as prevent and address Budget Corruption in the country.
“There should also be no room for sacred cows in your administration, and it is also important that you strengthen partnership with civil society and the media in fighting corruption and other issues,” the release said.
CENTAL is also calling for the auditing of all branches of government, including the implementing of audit reports and recommendations from the General Auditing Commission.
Miamen asserted, “We conclude by reemphasizing the importance of the Presidency to provide true leadership in the fight against corruption and bad governance in Liberia. Once the top leads by example, the message is bound to filter down to your appointed officials and those elected.”
“CENTAL recommits to maintaining her stance against corruption and bad governance in Liberia. With the support of Transparency International, our donors, citizens, and partners with whom we work, we promise to remain robust, constructive, and engaging, in supporting well-meaning efforts to tackle corruption and other governance challenges in Liberia,” he added.
