Monrovia – Recent moves by the Ministry of Information to defend President George Weah’s apparent reluctance to declare his asset have backfired as details in the Code of Conduct and regulations instituted by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission show that the Liberian leader is blatantly violating the law.
Report by Alpha Daffae Senkpeni – [email protected]
At the same time, he is failing to ensure that all of his appointees disclose their assets to the LACC as a means of sustaining the fight against the corruption pandemic.
Observers say this could dent the credibility of President Weah’s much-publicized ‘pro-poor’ agenda that should also prioritize upholding integrity and strengthening anti-graft policies.
According to the World Bank, more than 150 countries have introduced asset disclosure requirements for their public officials, which serve as a “powerful tool to prevent corruption, detect illicit enrichment and conflicts of interests and is use for public scrutiny.”
In Liberia, assets declaration has added to the impetus of anti-corruption – although there have been dangling strides in curbing the menace.
However, civil society and journalists often rely on assets declaration to hold public official accountable as a means of limiting corruption.
Such document is crucial in uncovering irregularities and initiating formal verification of declarations by anti-corruption/asset declaration agencies.
According the LACC, this is one way to ensure that officials “do not abuse their powers is for them to disclose their assets”.
“Unexplained wealth can raise suspicions that they acquired it by abusing their public powers.”
“If they know that their wealth is being noted and can be checked, they are less likely to act corruptly,” the Commission said on its website.
However, as the debate continues over the demolition of the President’s private residence, critics are in ire.
But top officials of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism have been presenting a rather misconstrued detail of the law creating misinformation that has the tendency of undermining the work of anti-graft institutions in the country.
Both Minister Eugene Nagbe and his Deputy Boakai Fofana have made separate coordinating comments, which contradict the Code of Conduct.
During a press conference on March 16, Minister Nagbe argued that President Weah declared his assets in 2005, 2011 and 2014, and would still declare his asset within the “statutory period”.
Said Nagbe: “So, beginning now till next month (April) the President’s asset will be declared in keeping with the law.”
And Fofana, in a Facebook post, added that President Weah was following the LACC asset declaration process.
“He’s filed his “intent to declare” and has received the LACC’s forms and schedules.”
“The next is collation and declaration… but he will declare next month, well ahead of the LACC’s deadline.”
While the Information Ministry puts a spin on its propaganda to defend the President, the process and period for assets declaration as enshrined in the coc are clear in order to abide by the law.
States Article 10.1 of the COC: “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…”
It further states: “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”.
According to the LACC, all declarations shall be accessible to the public upon a court order, the LACC and the General Auditing Commission (GAC) for investigative purposes.
Each declaration along with the updates thereto shall include disclosure of income, assets, liabilities, net worth, financial and family interests held by the official, the LACC states on its website.
“In the case of President Weah and his appointees, they should have declared their assets before taken office as stated in Article 10.1 of the Code of Conduct, and later if any appointee switch position or is promoted, that person must declare their assets after every three years”, said a source at the LACC, who asked for anonymity.
By precedent, our source added that former president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf frequently mandated her appointees – in their appointment letters – to declare their assets to the commission two weeks after taking office.
In sharp contrast, President Weah is yet to ask his officials to declare their assets.
And sources say international partners are in “shock and are asking too many questions” about the Weah-led government commitment to fighting corruption as they continue to blatantly ignore the Code of Conduct.