Montserrado County Senator, A. Darius Dillon is urging government officials appointed by President Joseph N. Boakai to declare their assets and liabilities in keeping with law. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, Senator Dillon said government officials should publish their assets for everybody to see.
“How difficult is this, or is there something to hide? Even if you have nothing prior to taking office, still declare that you have nothing; that’s still a declaration, in keeping with Law, Senator Dillon said.
Montserrado County Senator said failure to comply in keeping with the law, is a disrespectful violation. He added that this becoming shameful.
The Chairperson of Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Cllr. Alexandra Kromah-Zoe disclosed on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 that out of 500 appointments made by President Joseph N. Boakai, only 75 government officials have declared their assets.
Cllr. Zoe said the statistics is from LACC first quarter reports and those that declared their assets are from the Executive and Legislative Branches.
She said the annual assets declaration deadline is the last working day in July 2024 and it requires that all government officials declare their assets.
The LACC Boss said the ongoing assets declaration by government officials is very slow.
Cllr. Zoe further said Section 10.2(h) of the Amended Code of Conduct provides that an official appointed by the President shall declare his/her assets not less than thirty (30) days after appointment. Failure to comply shall result into immediate suspension from office until full compliance is obtained.
She said the LACC will recommend and request relevant authorities to execute appropriate sanctions against non-compliant public officials and employees of the Government of Liberia in keeping with the section10.3 of the National Code of Conduct.
Section 10.2(h) of the code of conduct as amended, section 5.2 (o) and section 4.1(g) of the New LACC Act of 2022, designates the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) as the repository for the asset declaration and verification regime of the Government of Liberia.
Additionally, section 10.1 of the code of conduct of 2014, requires every Public Official and Employee of Government involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types, to sign performance or financial bonds and in addition to declare his or her income, assets, and liabilities Prior to taking office.
According to her, LACC is currently taking steps to track compliance as well as non-compliance in keeping with relevant provisions of the law.
