Monrovia – The House of Representatives has agreed to set up a special investigative body to investigate the current Global Witness report accusing several senior officials of the Government of accepting bribes to perform their constitutional responsibility.
The Plenary of the House of Representative voted unanimously in favor of a motion to have the committee established, excluding the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alex Tyler, whose name is one of those published in the report.
The decision of plenary was a result of a communication written by Representatives Bhofal Chambers of Maryland County, who wrote seeking the approval of the body to institute and support the necessary safeguards that will ensure an independent investigation of the matter so as to protect the sanctity of that august body.
“This report has the propensity to bring this Government to public ridicule, demean our image, and thereby eroding public trust and confidence,” he wrote.
“Your cooperation in this direction shall be highly appreciated as it is incumbent upon us to, at all times, maintain and protect the public trust.”
The Global witness report contains allegations implicating prominent public officials, including some members of the legislature.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives says he is willing to make himself available to an investigation into the recent revelations detailing allegations of bribery as unraveled by the London-based watchdog group, Global Witness in a bid to safeguard the integrity of his office and the entire Legislative Branch of Government.
In a statement Monday, Speaker Tyler however alarmed that in order to lend credibility to the process, he is proposing that an independent panel outside of government, with representation of the Press Union of Liberia, Civil Society, Inter-Religious Council, Liberia National Bar Association and others be constituted, to launch an immediate inquest in to the alleged bribery scandal, to ascertain the veracity of the claims in the Global Witness Report.
“I shall avail myself to any such body to safeguard the integrity of my office and that of the entire Legislative Branch of Government, “the Speaker said.
In its 12 May statement, the Liberian government also announced that it had requested cooperation and assistance from the British government during the investigation into the UK-based Sable.
Henry Karmo (0886522495) [email protected]