Monrovia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has intensified efforts to reclaim government assets allegedly misappropriated by former and current officials by extending the mandate of the Assets Recovery Task Force for another year.
Through Executive Order No. 145, signed on March 5, 2025, President Boakai renewed and amended Executive Order No. 126, which established the task force a year ago. The extension reflects the administration’s determination to recover public resources unlawfully converted to private use and to hold those responsible accountable.
The Executive Order states that the task force’s mandate is being extended due to “extenuating circumstances” that have delayed its work. The task force is tasked with identifying, tracing, investigating, and reclaiming government assets within Liberia and abroad while ensuring those involved in their unlawful conversion face legal consequences.
The Assets Recovery Task Force will continue operating under the Office of the Minister of State for Special Services and is expected to collaborate with key institutions, including the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the Office of the Ombudsman, the General Services Agency (GSA), the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA).
President Boakai has appointed Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin as chairman of the five-member task force. Dr. Ranney B. Jackson will serve as vice chairman, while John Mulbah Gbilee, Crosby Johnson, and Atty. Suzanne A. Johnson will act as members. According to the Executive Order, the appointees were selected based on their expertise in law, governance, and financial investigations.
The renewed mandate empowers the task force to pursue assets both domestically and internationally. This move is part of a broader initiative by the Boakai administration to address corruption and restore public trust in government institutions.
Supporters of the extension argue that recovering stolen public resources is critical to improving Liberia’s economic stability and strengthening public services. However, critics remain skeptical, suggesting that without greater transparency and measurable outcomes, the task force risks being perceived as a political tool targeting opposition figures.
President Boakai’s administration has faced growing pressure to deliver on its anti-corruption promises, and the extension of the task force signals an ongoing commitment to ensuring accountability and reclaiming misused public assets.
