By: Archie Boan
The House of Representatives has directed its Committees on Judiciary and Good Governance to review and report on a proposed law seeking to prohibit active government officials from serving on the boards or management teams of public institutions.
The draft legislation, titled “An Act to Prohibit Active Government Officials from Serving on the Boards or Management of Any Public Institution, and to Establish a Framework for Independent Supervision and Transparent Oversight,” aims to strengthen good governance and promote accountability in the management of state-owned entities.
The bill was introduced on Tuesday during the 1st Day Sitting of the 3rd Quarter of the 2nd Session by Hon. Anthony F. Williams, Representative of Maryland County Electoral District #2.
In his communication to the House’s Plenary, Rep. Williams highlighted five major objectives of the proposed law, all geared toward promoting transparency, accountability, and institutional efficiency:
- Promoting Effective Oversight and Transparency – Ensuring public institutions operate efficiently under clear supervision and open governance practices.
- Preventing Conflicts of Interest – Setting strict legal standards to stop public officials from making decisions that may serve their personal or political interests.
- Eliminating Double Payments – Curbing the practice of officials receiving multiple salaries or benefits for similar roles, to ensure fairness and responsible use of public funds.
- Encouraging Job Creation – Allowing independent appointments to boards, thereby creating new employment and professional opportunities for qualified citizens.
- Enhancing Funding Opportunities – Empowering independent board members to attract financial and developmental support in a transparent and accountable way.
Following deliberations, the House’s Plenary voted to instruct the Joint Committees on Judiciary and Good Governance to conduct a comprehensive review of the bill and submit their findings and recommendations within two weeks.
The proposed law is expected to stimulate public debate around governance reform and the independence of public institutions across Liberia.
