The Office of Ombudsman has warned individuals involved in the misuse of government license plates. In a release issued over the weekend, the Office said it had observed with grave concern the widespread abuse of government-issued license plates, while certain individuals are affixing the same government plate to multiple vehicles, particularly using official plates on both their assigned government vehicle and a private one.
The release stated that this flagrant misuse not only violates the law but also undermines the integrity of government asset management, public trust and accountability and constitutes a clear attempt to evade vehicle registration laws.
The Office of the Ombudsman is therefore calling on the Liberia National Police (LNP) and all municipal police forces across the country to take immediate and sustained action to interdict such behavior, as these practices constitute a deliberate effort to defraud the state.
“The Ombudsman is warning all individuals involved in this scheme to immediately discontinue the practice. Anyone caught using a government plate on more than one vehicles will be turned over to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution under the law, including charges related to defrauding the state and evading legitimate vehicle registration,” the Office of the Ombudsman stated.
The Ombudsman informs all public officials that the Code of Conduct expressly prohibits the misuse of government resources, mandates respect for all laws of the state and demands the highest levels of professionalism on the part of all public officials and employees of government.
In a related development, the Office has also raised concern about the rising number of vehicles operating without official registration in the country. These unregistered vehicles pose serious safety risks to the public and contribute to revenue loss for the government. As such, the police are strongly encouraged to identify and interdict unregistered vehicles nationwide and ensure that all road users comply with national vehicle registration requirements.
The Office of the Ombudsman reiterated its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, and urges all Liberians to join in protecting public resources and enhancing national safety.
According to the release, The Office of the Ombudsman, headed by Cllr Finley Kangar, has called on government workers, motorists, and the general public to respect the laws governing vehicle registration and license plate use, saying that these regulations exist to protect public safety, preserve government accountability, and ensure that each citizen contributes fairly to the development of our nation.
“Over the next few months, the Ombudsman will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the police are enforcing the law without fear or favor. To aid in this, the Ombudsman is calling on all persons in Liberia to constantly document all vehicles that ply the streets without license plates or are misusing government plates and submit their documentation to the Office of the Ombudsman. Let us all work together to uphold transparency, protect public resources, and promote a safer Liberia,” the release concluded.
