The Chairman of the Assets Recovery Task Force, Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin has disclosed that the task force needs US$ 1.9 million to begin the recovery of assets and properties.
Addressing the Ministry of Information press briefing Thursday, March 21, 2024, Cllr. Martin said the task force will not ascend beyond the US$1.9 million budget.
Martin said their appointment on assets recovery task force is a national cause and a symbol of national preparedness by President Joseph N. Boakai’s quest to declare war on corruption and restore hope to the Liberian people.
He said the purpose of the Executive Order is to open a new chapter for good governance and accountability, stating that Liberia as nation has been victimized by bad governance, corruption and theft.
Martin assured that the task force will be robust and strong, “No person or persons despite his or her position will be exempt as the full weight of the law will not be selected in its duties.”
According to him, the assets recovery task force has started the process for employees, private individuals and past officials of government, who illegally got those assets and properties.
“We want to use this medium to call on all agencies, ministries, corporations that they have contacted to submit inventory of properties that they have selected for retrieve and also urge employees, private individuals and former officials that have government properties to surrender them to the task force,” Martin noted.
He said the task force is given ten days grace period from March 22-31, 2024 to those mentioned and to voluntarily surrender all state properties to avoid unspecified legal action.
Martin called on all garages that are in the habit of changing government vehicles’ color and General Services Agency (GSA) numbers to desist because they have gotten information on garages that are involved in that criminal act.
