The Chairperson of Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Cllr. Alexandra Kromah-Zoe has disclosed that out of 500 appointments made by President Joseph N. Boakai, only 75 government officials have declared their assets.
Speaking Tuesday, May 7, 2024 on OK FM Morning Show, Cllr. Zoe said the statistic 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.
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.
“LACC do not have any idea if all cabinet members of President Boakai government has declared their assets and a comprehensive listing will be generated and published on May 15, 2024,” LACC Boss said.
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.
She said the assets declaration exercise for all public officials and employees of the government are ongoing for them to declare their income, assets, and liabilities in keeping with the law.
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.
