Even after the July 31, 2024 deadline for asset declaration, the administration of Joseph Boakai still shows significant noncompliance and shortcoming. The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) reports that 1,008 individuals, equating to 53%, have complied, while 892, accounting for 46%, have failed to comply.
While President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has maintained silence since the first statistical LACC report regarding government officials required to declare their assets, the LACC has gone further to publish the list of those who have complied and those who have not complied. Verity newspaper has observed minimal changes in the number of government officials and employees who declared their assets from the deadline date of July 31, 2024, to the present, affecting all sectors.
Although there has been an increase from 26.5% to 53% of government officials who have complied with asset declaration as of the July 31, 2024 deadline, this increment still reflects a failing mark, contrary to the Boakai-led Administration’s campaign promise of ensuring accountability and transparency.
In fulfillment of a critical promise made, the LACC published the Asset Declaration listing for all government officials required to declare their assets and liabilities in line with the law on Thursday, September 5.
This significant step aims at promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity within the public service of Liberia. It also seeks to prevent corruption and build public trust.
During the recently concluded exercise, the LACC reported varying levels of participation and compliance among government officials. “While a significant number of officials submitted their declarations, some did not comply with the legal requirement to declare their assets.”
Regarding participation and compliance as per regulations, the anti-graft institution identified 1,900 employees and public officials of the government required to declare their assets and liabilities in accordance with the law by the deadline. “We hereby reiterate that as of July 31, 2024, only 26.5% of public officials were compliant, while 73.5% were non-compliant. It is based on these statistics that we present the following details.”
The LACC’s Asset Declaration Exercise revealed that out of a total of 73 elected representatives, only 26 were compliant, demonstrating their commitment to the rule of law, while 47 were non-compliant. Among the 56 administrative staff of the House of Representatives identified, only 1 staff member complied, bringing the total of compliant individuals from the House of Representatives to 27.
At the Liberian Senate, out of 30 elected senators, only 12 were compliant, again demonstrating their commitment to the rule of law, while 18 were non-compliant. None of the 44 administrative staff of the Liberian Senate who were identified complied.
In the Executive Branch, the deadline asset declaration report unveiled that, out of the 1,281 officials appointed and required to declare their assets, only 322 fully complied with the declaration requirements, while 959 did not comply. “We also received 84 asset declarations from non-appointed government employees, bringing the total number of asset declarations received from the Executive Branch to 406, demonstrating their commitment to transparency. A total of 406 appointed and non-appointed public officials declared within the time frame.”
The LACC reported that in the Judiciary Branch, of the 333 persons required to declare, only 29 officials complied, including 7 judges and 22 administrative staff, demonstrating their commitment to transparency. This left 305 non-compliant individuals, totaling 29 persons from the Judiciary who declared in time.
According to the LACC, after the July 31, 2024 deadline, it received only three additional asset declarations from members of the Liberian Senate: one from a senator and two from administrative staff. The institution also revealed it received only two additional asset declarations from members of the House of Representatives, both from administrative staff since the deadline.
The updated LACC statistics on asset declaration show that after the July 31, 2024 deadline, it received an additional 245 asset declarations, which, it is important to clarify, largely comprise local government officials. During the period from August 1 to August 30, after the deadline, the LACC received an additional 287 declarations from the Judiciary Branch, consisting of administrative staff and judges.
“There are other employees of government who are also non-compliant, including comptrollers, procurement officers, directors, and managers or those who are in similar positions. Our next course of action will be to request the listing of staff from government institutions, match them against our current records, and address them as we would all other non-compliance cases.”
As of the date of its press conference held on Thursday, September 5, 2024, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission reports that the total number of public officials identified under this exercise who are required to declare their assets is 1,900. Of this number, the total compliance is noted.
“The publication of this report marks a milestone in our ongoing efforts to fight corruption in Liberia. By making this information public, we are not only holding public officials accountable but also empowering citizens to engage in the oversight of their leaders. This transparency is crucial for reinforcing the rule of law and promoting good governance.”
As the LACC moves forward, it has recommended to the relevant authorities that sanctions prescribed by law be enforced against government officials who have not complied with the asset declaration requirements. According to sections 4.2, 14.1, and 15.1 of the National Code of Conduct, penalties for failing to declare assets or providing false information include dismissal from office, withholding of salaries, demotion, and suspension from duty with half pay, among others.
The LACC believes that this will send a clear message that non-compliance will not be tolerated, ensuring that accountability is paramount among public institutions. “We will now proceed to begin verifying those declarations we have received.”
