The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to initiate a competitive recruitment process for persons appointed to the Office of the Ombudsman.
In a press statement last Friday, CENTAL said it has read with keen interest reports in some local dailies alleging that the newly nominated Chairperson of the Ombudsman, Cllr. Findley Karngar holds loyalty to the Unity Party Alliance, which brought President Boakai to the presidency.
The group said whilst it cannot independently verify the veracity of the allegations, “we would like to register that allegations of such levied against an individual designated to occupy a role as critical as ombudsperson is concerning.”
To this, CENTAL encourages President Boakai to consider competitive recruitment processes in the future employment of individuals to critical roles, including institutions clothed with the authority to promote integrity and the fight against corruption. According to the group, transparent recruitment minimizes the likelihood that persons with questionable independence, competence, and credibility surface in public offices.
It contended that had such a mechanism been employed, the current situation regarding the President’s nominee to the Ombudsman would have been avoided.
“We must note that open and competitive vetting processes with the participation of civil society, government, and other relevant stakeholders have now become the standard for recruitment to integrity institutions, even where the law does not explicitly require it. If anything, it adds more value to such a recruitment process and gives the public confidence in those preferred to occupy such strategic position (s),” it added.
CENTAL recommended that the Executive and Legislative branches of government work to ensure that, building upon the Code of Conduct, legislation is passed carving out the structure of the Office of the Ombudsman, qualifications and recruitment procedures, as well as providing for tenure, financial autonomy, and gender representation.
“We must note that the Code of Conduct is scanty in respect of the composition of the Ombudsman and other key elements described above. CENTAL believes that appointments under the current law can only suffice as a stop-gap measure until the Office of the Ombudsman is properly established, with all necessary insulation to truly equate it as an independent integrity institution,” it noted.
The group further recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman is adequately supported through the national budget, as there exists no such support in the draft 2024 national budget before the Legislature for review and passage into law.
CENTAL, also recommended that Cllr. Karngar and his would-be team and co-workers lead by example in terms of fully complying with the Code of Conduct for Public Officials and other relevant laws and policies.
“Also, we admonish them to be independent, fair, efficient, and effective in carrying out their functions, as they serve in this very important capacity,” it said.
In conclusion, the group reiterated its commitment to work with diverse stakeholders and partners to meaningfully support national efforts to fight against corruption and promote and mainstream the culture of integrity and accountability in Liberia, across all sectors and institutions.
Also, it encourages Liberians to commend/appreciate their leaders, where necessary. However, it said “we wish to caution against settling for mediocrity or pettiness. In other words, Liberians should demand very high standards and performance from their national and local leaders, especially in line with established laws, their mandates, as well as commitments/promises made to citizens/ the public before, during, and after elections.”
