Adherence to statutes and laws in most African countries is said to be difficult for some high-ups and ordinary citizens, and Liberia is no exception.
The lack of adherence to such basic but critical laws in Liberia has led to the suspension of over 400 government officials. They have been accused of violating laws governing the offices they occupied.
On Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2023, at around midday, the executive mansion issued a statement on its official Facebook page suspending all government officials allegedly violating Liberia’s Code of Conduct.
According to the statement, “President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has immediately suspended all government officials who failed to declare their assets within the required timeframe.”
The statement further quotes the Liberian leader: “As part of this directive, all suspended officials must immediately turn over government assets to compliant heads of agencies, their designees, or authorised personnel within their respective institutions. The President remains steadfast in his commitment to good governance, integrity, and the rule of law.”
This move by President Boakai has sparked heated debate in the country and has taken the front pages of nearly every local daily and become the point of discussion for almost every talk show in the country, as seen here, here, and here (28:40 to 31:10).
According to Part X, under the caption title, the declaration and registration of personal interests, assets, and performance/financial bonds require all government officials to declare their assets before and after taking office.
Article 10.1 (A, B, C, D) states,
“Every Public Official and Employee of Government involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types shall sign performance or financial bonds and shall in addition declare his or her income, assets, and liabilities before taking office and thereafter: A. at the end of every three years; B. on promotion or progression from one level to another; C. upon transfer to another public office; and D. upon retirement or resignation.
Before this suspension, President Boakai issued a directive mandating all appointed government officials to declare their assets under the assets declaration requirements enshrined in Liberia’s 2014 Code of Conduct.
Immediately upon this decision by President Boakai, the Civil Service Agency (CSA) issued a statement blocking the salaries of all those suspended, as seen in the screenshot below.
How do Liberians assess the president’s decision?
This move by President Boakai has sparked heated debate within every street corner and intellectual centre across the country.
Austine Dahn, a local money exchanger in Paynesville, a city outside Monrovia, believes that the Liberian leader’s move was belated and that, as such, no further action is needed.
Dahn said, “It’s been more than a year now since those people were appointed and have taken pay and acquired some properties while on the job. How do we distinguish between the ones they brought on the job and the ones they acquired on the job? For me, it is very late on the part of the president.”
The head of the Civil Society Organisations in Liberia, Madam Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai, said that she welcomes the president’s decision because, according to her, his action reaffirms his strong commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability, and her view was made on her official Facebook page.
How do those on the list view this decision?
Some of those on the list are contesting the validity of the list, while some have already begun adhering to the president’s decision by proceeding to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to declare their assets as required by law.
Counsellor (Cllr.) Aagon F. Tingba, Jr., serves as a board member on the Education Board of Liberia. He believes that his position does not require him to declare his assets because he does not receive cents from the job but rather on a pro bono basis.
Cllr. used his official Facebook page to express his frustration over how and why his name should appear on the list of non-compliant officials of the government who have refused to declare their assets
Madam Kou Meapeh Gono is the current superintendent of Nimba County, the second-largest populated county in Liberia. She has since dismissed claims that she failed to declare her assets, insisting she has fully complied with all legal requirements enshrined within the Code of Conduct.
Superintendent Meapeh-Gono’s rejection of the claims was contained in a press release published on the Honnah Intellectual Group page. On the other hand, two officials whose names appeared on the list were captured on the compound of the LACC, where they went to declare their assets.
According to journalist Nyantee Samuel Genero Tobga, the two officials, Mohammed Bah, and Chris Onuga, had reportedly gone to declare their assets following President Boaka’s decision against those who failed to declare assets.
Conclusion
This decision by President Boakai will remain in force until all those affected comply with the law.