By Bill W. Cooper
The Liberian Senate is mandating the Chairperson and Commissioners of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to declare and publish their assets, in keeping with law.
The body further instructed the Senate Secretary, Nanbolor Singbe, to officially inform the Commission to ensure that its Chairperson and Commissioners’ assets are declared and published before enforcing its Exit Assets Declaration against outgoing officials.
The decision, according to that body, is to ensure integrity within the LACC, while also setting a precedent for outgoing government officials to declare their assets before leaving office.
The Senate’s decision comes amidst the LACC’s call for all outgoing public officials of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government to declare their assets, prior to their departure in January of 2024.
The Commission, through its Chairperson, Cllr. Alexandria Zoe, cautioned the officials to ensure that all of their assets are declared on or before December 12, 2023, disclosing that it can be done by filing an Asset Declaration form with the Commission.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission was established in 2008 with the primary objective of promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity within the Liberian government.
Its mandate includes investigating and prosecuting corruption cases, enforcing the declaration of assets by public officials, and implementing mechanisms to prevent corruption.
At the same time, the country’s Code of Conduct of 2014, and amended in 2022, mandates that prior to or before taking public office, all public officials shall declare and publish their ‘Assets and Liabilities.’
The Code of Conduct also mandates that all public officials shall declare and publish their ‘Assets and Liabilities’ before or when leaving public office, as well as after every three years in office.
The Senate’s decision was triggered following a complaint from Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon, in which he told his colleagues that since the confrontation of Cllr. Zoe and her Commissioners, they all are yet to declare their assets.
The Montserrado County Senator, in his deliberation, noted that his action is to ensure that LACC demonstrates a strong commitment to set an example of transparency and accountability, right at the heart of the institution responsible for combating corruption.
According to him, it is a disservice for the LACC to be knocking on the back and holding outgoing government officials accountable for their asset declaration, while they themselves are yet to do same in confines of the Code of Conduct.
Sen. Dillon named the issues of promoting transparency, accountability, and deterrence for outgoing government officials, indicating that making their asset declarations public would send a clear message that they operate with the highest standards of integrity.
He asserted, “Because transparency not only builds public trust, but also encourages other public servants to follow suit and lead by example, and they will also set a strong precedent within the agency itself.”
“Mr. Pro-temp and colleagues, the move will further ensure that the institution responsible for fighting corruption remains free from any potential conflicts of interest, biases, or suspicions of impropriety, and establishes a culture of accountability and scrutiny, ensuring that those who serve the nation do so with the utmost honesty,” Dillon added.
