By Laurina B Lormia
The Center for Transparency and Accountability (CENTAL) is calling on President Boakai to suspend officials who have not yet declared their assets.
The group also concluded its investigation into recent allegations against former government officials, emphasizing that it does not see any witch-hunt in the case under review.
Addressing the press on Friday August 2, 2024, at the office in Sinkor, the Executive Director, Anderson Miamen, stated that, if the President must be seen as being impartial in dealing with corruption and other accountability issues, he has to punish his officials for violating the laws of Liberia, the code of conduct in the case in question.
According to him, the President’s lack of action against his officials on this matter raises questions in terms of his willpower to deal with his own officials pointing out that the process leading to holding people accountable should be holistic and impartial.
On Thursday, August 1, 2024, the LACC through its Executive Chairperson, Alexandra K. Zoe, reported a low level of compliance by officials of the Boakai-led administration with the law on declaration of assets, incomes, and liabilities before taking office.
“LACC’s report states that only 322 of a possible 1,281 public officials have declared their assets, incomes, and liabilities. We applaud the few officials of the government that are in compliance,” he said.
“This is disappointing, especially for a President and government that is going after former officials for corruption and defrauding of the state. Adding that the process leading to holding people accountable should be holistic and impartial,” he stressed.
He encouraged the Judiciary to comply with law on assets declaration and other accountability frameworks adding that reports from the LACC regarding limited compliance with the asset declaration law by the judicial officials is troubling, as they need to do better in leading by example.
CENTAL also called on the leadership and members of the Legislature to fully comply with the assets declaration law in that, reports of the very low compliance level of the Legislature are concerning and need urgent action by the leadership and individual lawmakers.
CENTAL however urged Liberians to support LACC, GAC, and other integrity entities that are leading anti-corruption and accountability efforts in Liberia stating, “The Public must continue to demand accountability from the government, especially concerted, impartial, and sustained efforts to address the culture of impunity for corruption and other offences in the Country.”
Over the last few weeks, CENTAL has followed laudable efforts by the Liberian Government towards ensuring accountability and transparency, especially in government and said the LACC, GAC and Public Accounts Committee of the Legislature have been in the media for the right reasons.
CENTAL applauded the LACC and other integrity institutions for their ongoing efforts adding that, they must continue to partner in meaningful ways in the fight against corruption, working with civil society, media and other independent players and actors.
However, Miamen said they are appalled by former President George Weah’s attempt to sidestep allegations levied against his former officials during his press conference held on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
He asserted that, they believe former President Weah, who professes to be an ardent supporter of the fight against corruption, should encourage those indicted to present themselves before the law to be exonerated, if they are innocent, as indictments are not convictions.
CENTAL highly welcomed the move to hold former government officials accountable for their stewardship and has followed with keen interest the indictment of these individuals on multiple allegations of corruption by the LACC, former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. and others have been investigated and indicted for allegedly siphoning amounts totaling LD$1,055,152,540 and US$500,000.
“It is crystal clear that Liberians are tired of corruption and want a genuine, robust, and impartial fight against it adding that they support genuine calls for an impartial, independent, and holistic fight against corruption, irrespective of who is involved,” he narrated.
He lamented that, while they admonish former President Weah to encourage his officials to face the law, they are also admonishing the President Boakai administration to ensure that its anti-corruption efforts are impartial.
Meanwhile, he further called on the Commission to engage the US Government to seek evidence against the accused and urged the body to investigate and prosecute former officials of government sanctioned by the U.S. government for significant public sector corruption noting that, they too should be given the space to exonerate themselves in a court of competent jurisdiction.
