Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has come under fire for failing to raise Liberia’s anti-corruption, transparency, and accountability standards to a high level.
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) claims the President is “pampering” public officials, including those who have blatantly violated the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, particularly regarding asset declaration.
In a press statement marking International Anti-Corruption Day 2024, CENTAL described the lack of decisive action against corruption as the “missing link” in the nation’s anti-corruption fight.
The organization criticized the government’s reluctance to suspend or dismiss officials implicated in corruption, highlighting it as a key factor enabling a culture of impunity.
“While President Boakai holds the greatest power and responsibility to shape Liberia’s fight against corruption, he has yet to set the necessary high standards or act decisively on violations, especially by those close to the presidency and ruling party,” CENTAL stated.
The advocacy group noted that Liberia’s Corruption Perception Index score remains at a dismal 25/100, signaling deep-rooted corruption in the public sector. CENTAL urged the President to lead by example and demonstrate strong political will to reverse this trend.
Despite acknowledging progress, such as the passage of the Whistleblower Protection Law and the Witness Protection Law, CENTAL emphasized that anti-graft institutions like the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and General Auditing Commission (GAC) remain underfunded and lack financial independence.
The statement called for the following actions:
Presidential Leadership: Immediate suspension and dismissal of officials implicated in corruption and violations of the Code of Conduct.
Institutional Support: Adequate funding and independence for integrity institutions to investigate and prosecute corruption cases effectively.
Civil Society and Media: Enhanced efforts to raise awareness about corruption and rally citizens to demand accountability.
CENTAL also highlighted the need for public integrity institutions to leverage existing resources, such as asset declaration information, to bring corrupt officials to justice.
