'Low Turnout in Assets Declaration’ … Says LACC Boss

Amidst a wakeup call by President Joseph  Nyuma Boakai for all public officials to declare their assets during the third cabinet retreat, the turnout of  the assets declaration is not encouraging as the Executive Director of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission(LACC) has called on public officials to declare their assets in keeping with the law, noting that the process has been slow.

Speaking on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 on the Truth Breakfast Show via Telephone, the LACC Boss, Alexandra K. Zoe, disclosed that out of the five hundred appointments made by the President, a total of 75 persons including Legislators have declared their assets.

“Currently as we speak, the assets declaration process has actually been slow. Base on statistics that we have, the President has made a nomination of 500 persons and as we speak, we have only 75persons declaring their assets. We think this is uncheckable,“ said the LACC Boss.

“We understand that some of these nominations are subject to appointments and then in keeping with the code of conduct has 30days but most of those appointments 30days has elapsed. So we encourage public officials to proceed to the LACC to declare their assets,’’ she stated.

According to her, the LACC is currently taking steps to track compliance as well as non-compliance and a comprehensive listing of those in compliance will be published on May 15, 2024.

“By May 15, we will begin a publication of those in compliance while also ensuring that public officials have up to the end of July to declare their assets.“

Madam Zoe noted that the commission will also recommend and request relevant authorities to execute appropriate sanctions against non-compliant public officials and employees of the Government of Liberia(GoL) in keeping with section10.3 of the National Code of Conduct.

Section 10.1 of the code of conduct of 2014, requires every public official and rmployee of Government involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types, to sign performance or financial bonds and in addition to declare his or her income, assets, and liabilities prior to taking office.

Furthermore, Section 10.2(h) of the Amended Code of Conduct provides that an official appointed by the President shall declare his/her assets not less than thirty (30) days after appointment. Failure to comply shall result into immediate suspension from office until full compliance is obtained.