Liberian President Joseph Boakai suspended more than 450 senior government officials for failing to declare their assets to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). He put them on leave without pay for one month or until they fulfill the requirement.
President Boakai stressed that the asset declaration is a legal requirement under Liberia’s Code of Conduct for public officials that ensures transparency and accountability. He argued that since noncompliance jeopardizes the government’s work to fight corruption and restore public confidence in institutions, it betrays the hard work.
The affected officials’ list contained 457 names, as published by LACC, which stated that the action had been based on the guidance of the law. President Boakai assumed office last year after promising to combat corruption; he has shown good intent by reducing his salary by 40% in a bid to lead by good example.
The decision came about during a time when the administration of former president George Weah received backlash from widespread criticism over allegations of corruption, extravagant spending, and nationwide protests against rising living costs.
Some of the suspended officials started complying with the president’s directive by producing their declarations, but there were mixed feelings surrounding the directive. While some political analyst Abdullah Kiatamba expressed support for the anti-corruption drive, he noted some of the challenges officials face in meeting the requirement. The civil society group Solidarity and Trust for a New Day condemns the suspension as a “meaningless, symbolic gesture,” asserting that one month of suspension is insufficient to address systemic corruption.
This only asserts that President Boakai is walking the talk in his administration’s sustenance of transparency, even if the future will test if it was effective in curbing corrupt practices.
