MONROVIA – The ruling Coalition for Democratic Change’s decision to name the Chairman of the Governance Commission on its campaign team is raising eyebrows among civil society organizations as said decision directly contravenes the Act that created the Commission.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
The Governance Commission was a creation of the 2003 Accra Peace Accord to attend to Liberia’s numerous problems occasioned by the 14-year civil war.
The Commission’s overarching mandate is to promote good governance by advising and formulating policies and institutional arrangements while also fostering integrity across all levels of society and within both public and private institutions.
Section 5.3.4 of the Act creating the Commission states that “ thus Commissioners must be non-partisan to prevent the governance agenda and process from being a political one.’’
However, not only has Atty. Garrison Yealue who heads the Commission been named to the CDC national campaign but he has also been verbose in his readiness to campaign for President George Weah’s re-election.
In a Facebook post in mid-July, Atty. Yealue expressed his support for President George Weah’s re-election bid and his intention to encourage his fellow community members to do the same.
He posted: “I am personally endorsing President George M. Weah for re-election, and I will actively work to persuade my constituents to support him as well. However, it is essential that we adhere to the rules of fair play in our political endeavors. Baseless accusations against me will not serve any constructive purpose.
“Furthermore, it is important to clarify that my name, Garrison Doldeh Yealue, Jr., will not appear on the ballot papers. Our primary goal is to ensure that our people can benefit from their significant representation. In Vayenglay, we have a saying: ‘Lue Gbeh mehn e zohn Wia kar, a yea dor Vayenglay Gueh muon’ which means Nimba belongs to all of us! Indeed, the maggots and the carcass are inseparable!”
Atty. Yealue is a former lawmaker from Nimba County.
In a press statement, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) called on the Liberian government and the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) party to maintain the sanctity and independence of the Governance Commission (GC) and avoid any actions that may undermine its neutrality and effectiveness.
CENTAL, a prominent civil society organization focused on promoting good governance and combating corruption in Liberia, emphasized the importance of integrity and anti-corruption efforts in the upcoming October 2023 elections.
The statement expressed deep concern over the CDC’s decision to appoint Atty. Yealue as the Deputy Campaign Manager for Administration. According to CENTAL, this appointment not only violates the law but also contradicts the principles of an independent and politically neutral commission.
According to CENTAL, the Governance Commission has historically played a pivotal role in promoting good governance and democracy in Liberia and is legally mandated to remain independent and free from undue influence.
CENTAL criticized the decision, stating that it undermines the government’s own anti-corruption and good governance agenda. Moreover, the appointment could harm the Commission’s reputation and hinder its ability to attract financial and technical support from development partners.
In response to the appointment controversy, CENTAL called on President George Weah and the CDC to remove Mr. Yealue from their campaign team to safeguard the Commission’s independence and restore its reputation. The organization emphasized the importance of adhering to laws and regulations to ensure a level playing field for all candidates and political parties during the electoral process.
The statement also highlighted the urgent need for the President to appoint an Ombudsman to oversee matters related to the violation of the Code of Conduct for public officials and other related laws and policies. This appointment is crucial to address any abuse of incumbency and misuse of government assets for political purposes.
Meanwhile, the General Auditing Commission (GAC) management recently issued a reminder to its staff regarding the institution’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a “Political Neutrality Policy.” The memo, dated July 18, 2023, emphasizes the importance of employees remaining politically neutral both within and outside the workplace.
The internal memo highlights that engaging in any form of Political Campaigning is strictly prohibited for all GAC employees. It is vital for each employee to uphold both actual and perceived political neutrality, ensuring they maintain independence from any political influence. This impartiality is crucial in discharging audit and other responsibilities, considering the close collaboration between the GAC, legislative authorities, the Liberian people, and other stakeholders.
The memo explicitly forbids participating in discussions, debates, or distributing campaign materials related to any political candidate or party during or outside of working hours. However, the GAC says it respects the right of all Liberian citizens to have political and other affiliations, as stated in the Constitution. Despite personal beliefs and opinions, all conversations about political topics should be conducted respectfully, according to the GAC policy.
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