By Bill W. Cooper
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has announced that it will compile and publish a full listing of government officials that have declared and those yet to declare their assets in keeping with the Code of Conduct (CoC).
The commission also stated that it will recommend a sanction of withholding salaries or suspensions of officials that have failed to comply with the asset declaration requirements.
The asset declaration requirement is a key component of the Liberia’s anti-corruption efforts aimed at promoting transparency and accountability across government.
All government officials, including elected officials, appointed and members of the Judiciary are required to declare their assets and liabilities to the LACC before assuming and after three years in office.
Addressing a news conference yesterday, LACC’s Chairperson, Alexandra Zoe, explained that as per their regulations, the Commission was able to identify 1,900 employees and public officials of government that are required to declare.
Of that number, LACC disclosed that 26.5 percent have participated in the assets declaration exercise as per the record which is a total violation of Section 10.1 and Section 10.2(h) of the COC.
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.
According to her, of the total number of 73 elected Representatives, 26 Representatives were in compliant demonstrating their commitment to the rule of law, while 47 were non-compliant.
She also narrated that of the 56 administrative staff of the House of Representative that were identified, only 1 staff was in compliant demonstrating his/her commitment to rule of law.
Cllr. Zoe noted, “Still in the Legislative branch, of the total number of 30 elected senators, 12 were in compliant demonstrating their commitment to the rule of law, while 18 were non-compliant. The 44 administrative staff of the House of senate that were identified, non-complied.”
“In the Executive Branch, of the 1,281 officials appointed who are required to declare their assets, 322 officials fully complied with the declaration requirements, while 959 are non-compliant,” the LACC reported.
“We also received 84 asset declaration from non -appointed employees of government thus bringing the total number of asset declaration received from the Executive branch of government to 406 demonstrating their commitment to transparency,” she mentioned.
Cllr. Zoe further narrated that in the Judiciary branch, a total number of 333 persons are required to declare, but only 28 officials were in compliant, including seven judges and 21 administrative staffs were in compliant demonstrating their commitment to transparency, while 305 were non-compliant.
She added that the commission Asset declarations will be monitored regularly to ensure ongoing compliance for new appointments, change in positions as well launch public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the importance of asset declarations and how they can contribute to the fight against corruption.
