Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission Calls on Public Officials to Declare their Assets

Monrovia – The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has called on all public officials and government employees who are required to declare their income, assets and liabilities to do so.

According to the LACC, all public officials who are entering or re-entering public office and have no record of declaring or re-declaring their income, assets and liabilities are required by law to do so prior to taking office.

President George Weah and members of his cabinet are yet to declare their assets to the LACC, despite many calls from the public for them to do so.

Rights activist Leroy Archie Ponpon recently staged a three-day hunger strike before the American Embassy in Monrovia in demand for President Weah to declare his assets.

The anti-corruption body clarified that misconception held by most officials of the current administration that they are to declare their assets on the last Friday of July.

“The LACC wishes to clarify that ‘Section IV. Administration of Asset Disclosure System’ of the ‘Regulations for The Administration, Monitoring, Receiving And Implementation Of Asset Declaration In Accordance With The National Code Of Conduct For All Public Officials And Employees’, relating to the universal filing deadline (last Friday in July),  refers to public officials who had declared earlier and are re-declaring either: at the end of every three years; on promotion or progression from one level to another; upon transfer to another public office; and upon retirement and resignation,” an LACC statement noted.

The Commission has also admonished other former public officials who exited their offices by means of retirement, resignation, dismissal, etc., to submit two copies of a completed, signed and notarized Asset Disclosure Form which should have been done immediately prior to exiting.

Part X of the National Code of Conduct (NCoC) for all Public Officials and Employees requires that 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 prior to taking office and thereafter at the end of every three years, on promotion or progression from one level to another, upon transfer to another public office and upon retirement or resignation.

This provision also requires public officials who exit public office by means of retirement, resignation, dismissal, etc., to submit two copies of a completed, signed and notarized Asset Disclosure Form immediately prior to exit.

“The LACC believes that the declaration of income, assets and liabilities is healthy in enhancing accountability, transparency and integrity in the public sector. Besides, IT IS THE LAW. The LACC, therefore calls on all Public Officials and Employees of Government to comply with the law,” the statement noted.