The Liberian Senate has withheld the confirmation of Edward Appleton as Ambassador to Japan due to allegations that he failed to declare his assets while serving as Board Chairman of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL).
Appleton is among several officials named in a report by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) for failing to comply with asset declaration requirements.
The Senate has announced further investigations to determine the accuracy of these claims, warning that noncompliance with transparency laws could lead to his rejection.
The Senate’s decision follows President Joseph Boakai’s recent move to suspend nearly 400 government officials and employees who failed to declare their assets within the required timeframe.
The President enforced the measure on February 12 under Article 2, Section 10.2(h) of the Act to Amend Section 5.2 and Section 10.2 of the 2014 Code of Conduct.
This followed a directive issued on November 27, 2024, granting officials a ten-day grace period to comply.
The LACC has released a comprehensive list of non-compliant officials, all of whom have been suspended for one month without pay or until they submit their required asset declarations.
Suspended officials have also been instructed to immediately turn over government assets to compliant heads of agencies or designated personnel.
President Boakai has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to good governance, integrity, and the rule of law, emphasizing that asset declaration is essential to promoting transparency and restoring public trust in government institutions.
He warned that failing to comply with asset declaration laws undermines efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability, vowing to enforce ethical and legal standards strictly.
Meanwhile, the government’s crackdown on asset declaration violations signals a firm stance on accountability and the fight against corruption in public service. For a full list of officials affected by the President’s suspension order, refer to the latest publications from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
