President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has officially commissioned the Office of the Ombudsman, an institution dedicated to ensuring transparency, justice and accountability within government.
Speaking during the commissioning event on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, President Boakai said the Ombudsman will also provide a platform to address some of the most pressing governance concerns citizens have.
“With this, we affirm our commitment to executing the mandate given to us by the people of Liberia to provide responsible leadership and effective governance,” he said. The Liberian leader indicated that the office of the Ombudsman originates from the prescription in Article 90(C) of the constitution and the Code of Conduct for all public officials and employees.
He stated that the Ombudsman is an independent official appointed to investigate and address complaints against government agencies or other institutions regarding the violation of the code of conduct.
Boakai revealed that the Ombudsman is expected to ensure public officials are held to high ethical standards and accountable for their actions; promote fairness in the resolution of disputes and help to promote good governance. “We have long faced obstacles in establishing the office of the Ombudsman due to insufficient funding and unambiguous political support,” the president said.
President Boakai said these challenges have slowed the progress in promoting public accountability, improving performance and service delivery, and enhancing state-society relations. Boakai: “However, with the commissioning of this office, we are now in a better position to complete the process of ensuring public accountability. This milestone allows us to move forward with implementing a code of conduct, which is a crucial step in enhancing accountability and oversight in our institutions.”
He noted that the appointment of the Ombudsman is a significant step his government’s commitment to a reform agenda and strengthening democracy. While he agreed that certain sections of the Code need to be expanded and amended to address current realities, President Boakai encouraged all to still embrace it to help build a society where justice and integrity prevail, and the rule of law serves the people with fairness.
“Today, I will take that commitment further by being the first President in our nation’s history to publicly sign the Code of Conduct; And in so doing, I challenge and urge all others to sign and uphold the Code of Conduct,” Boakai noted.
He said that as his government undertakes this important exercise, officials should be reminded about the one-in-a-generation opportunity to reform and transform the country for the good of Liberians.
