-LACC accused of being political
By Jerromie S. Walters
Cllr. Alexandria Kormah Zoe, Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), has suffered severe criticism and allegations of politizing the antigraph body (LACC) over the last few days, by supporters of the ruling establishment. This started after she informed the public that out of 500 presidential appointees in the first quarter of the year (January-April), only 75 of them have declared their assets.
Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, Deputy Information Minister for Technical Services, and scores of other pro-UP agents have lashed Cllr. Zoe, and accused her of undermining Mr. Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, through the accountability spectrum.
Over the weekend, Senator Darius Dillon said the LACC disclosure was premature and they should have been specific about those officials who have complied with the declaration process and those who haven’t. “I think for the release from the LACC, it was rushed, it was to gain public attention that the LACC is still existing but they need to do their work comprehensively.”
He believes the Chairperson lacks the needed knowledge of the process, as he quoted Part 10 of the Code of Conduct which mandates assets declaration by Public Officials and Employees of Government involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types. With this, he said all presidential appointees are not compelled to declare their assets, except for those that are involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types.
Like Senator Dillon, Deputy Information Minister Daniel Sando rebuked the LACC’s Boss’ disclosure about only 75 of about 500 presidential appointees declaring their assets. He accused the LACC of politicizing the issue and criticized Cllr. Zoe for addressing the matter through a radio talk show rather than engaging directly with government channels, and he characterized it as a move to publicly shame officials.
The Deputy Information Minister for Technical Services expressed disappointment with the LACC’s handling of the process, attributing delays to the commission’s failure to provide clear guidance on asset declaration procedures.
Moreover, Sando contested the accuracy of the LACC’s report, suggesting it lacked thoroughness and may have been influenced by political agendas. He emphasized the government’s commitment to combating corruption but urged the LACC to improve its operational efficiency and ensure transparency in its activities.
LACC Boss’ disclosure
Last Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Cllr. Alexandria Kormah Zoe, Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), disclosed that out of the over 500 appointments made by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, only 75 officials have declared their assets. She made the revelation during a radio interview on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, covering appointments from January to April 2024, with emphasis on the slow progress in asset declarations.
“For the first quarter of the year, we did an exercise and we realized that the President did up to 500 appointments and as we speak only 75 declarations we have so far,” Cllr. Zoe said and explicitly emphasized that those 75 persons came from the Executive and the legislature.
The National Code of Conduct mandates the Declaration and Registration of Personal Interests, Assets, and Performance/Financial Bonds by all public officials. Cllr. Zoe appeared concerned about the slow paste of the process and said several appointed officials have not complied with the law’s requirements within the stipulated timeframe.
“The assets declaration for incoming officials is very slow at the LACC. There have been officials that have been appointed they have already exhausted the seven days required by the law for some of them. Most of them have not declared their assets,” Cllr. Alexandria Kormah Zoe articulated.
The LACC is currently compiling declarations to determine the number of cabinet members who have declared their assets. It was also made known by the LACC Boss that a report on the status of asset declarations is scheduled for release to the public on May 15, 2024.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, in his inaugural address, outlined the ARREST agenda focusing on key sectors for Liberia’s development. Following public scrutiny, the President publicly declared his assets to the LACC on February 8, 2024, as he emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in governance.
After the declaration and presentation of Mr. Boakai’s assets to the LACC, he emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of honesty and independence within both the institution and his government. “As leaders, it is our duty to lead by example and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to accountability.” He added: “We must hold ourselves accountable to the people we serve,” he said.
However, hundreds of those he has entrusted to aid him in the governance process of Liberia for the next six years are yet to exemplify their commitment to transparency which he (President Boakai) has characterized as a cornerstone of good governance, concisely through assets declaration.
The deadline for annual asset declaration is the last working day in July, with the LACC regulation requiring public awareness two months Part 10.1 of the National Code of Conduct for all Public Officials and Employees of the Government of the Republic of Liberia captioned: Declaration of Assets and Performance Bonds provides that “Every Public Official and Employee of Government involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types shall sign performance or financial bonds and shall in addition declare his/her income, assets, and liabilities before taking office and thereafter.”
The use of ‘asset declaration’/wealth disclosure is a powerful preventive tool to help public officials avoid unwarranted accusations of conflicts of interest and illicit wealth accumulation. It is also used to increase the confidence level of the general public in their leaders and those occupying positions that are prone to conflict of interest and the use of discretionary power.
In fulfillment of the Article 90(c) mandate of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, on June 20, 2014, an “ACT OF LEGISLATURE PRESCRIBING A NATIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ALL PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA” was enacted.
The National Code of Conduct, in Part 10, provides for the Declaration and Registration of Personal Interests, Assets, and Performance/Financial Bonds by all public officials and employees of the government. The NCoC specifically states under 10.2 Repository and Contents of Declaration, inter alia, “…All such declarations shall be accessible to both the public employer and the general public upon court order; as well as to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) for investigative purposes. …”. Hence, the ongoing Asset Declaration and Verification exercises initiated by the LACC are in fulfillment of her constitutional duties to ensure accountability and transparency in public governance.
Asset declaration by public officials and employees of the government forms the basis for engaging with declarants. Whereas the verification process is a process of corroborating items listed against actuality. Indications of the preponderance of discrepancies and cloudiness of declarations may warrant administrative punishment or gravitate to full-scale investigation and subsequent prosecution, as the case may be, under Part 10.3 Sanctions for False Declaration of the NCoC and PART IV – POWERS OF THE COMMISSION of the LACC Act.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) was established by an Act of Legislature on August 28, 2008, with the mandate to investigate and prosecute acts of corruption, as well as educate the public about the ills of corruption and the benefits of its eradication.
