By : Jerromie S. Walters
The Political Leader of the opposition Unity Party (UP), Joseph Nyuma Boakai, has vowed to launch a significant fight against corruption by establishing and fully empowering renowned anti-corruption institutions from day one as president if he’s elected.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, the former Vice President said those anti-graft institutions will be entrusted with the critical responsibility of recovering stolen funds and ill-gotten properties from officials of the Weah Government.
According to him, said endeavor will be actualized, and with their unmatched expertise and track record, you can be assured that they will be well-equipped to deliver results.
“Fellow Liberians, one of the primary objectives of my administration, starting from day one as the President of Liberia, will be to tackle corruption head-on. The cancer is eating up the country, and it must be faced with utmost brutality”, he vowed.
According to him, a comprehensive and effective investigation into what he sees as the corrupt activities of the Weah regime will be absolutely critical to achieving success.
“Rest assured, my government will actively pursue the recovery of ill-gotten gains and hold accountable those who have abused their positions of trust. The scrutiny will extend to all the individuals directly and indirectly involved in their transactions”, Amb Boakai noted.
In his view, the fight against corruption demands a thorough examination of the Republic of Liberia’s contracts, appropriation and execution of the national budgets, existing audit reports, as well as other related financial records.
“Furthermore, this process will be conducted transparently and impartially. Independent institutions tasked with combating corruption and building robust systems of accountability will be adequately funded and empowered to play a pivotal role in this endeavor”.
He continued, “Their professional insights and meticulous investigations will enable us to uncover any illicit enrichment and ensure that justice is served. Those individuals who find themselves unable to provide a reasonable explanation for their sudden accumulation of vast wealth within a span of fewer than six years, based on their declared incomes, will be required to present their case before the judiciary”.
At the same time, he emphasized that this initiative will be fueled by his desire to restore faith in their democratic institutions and ensure that public resources are used for the betterment of all Liberians.
By retrieving unlawfully acquired assets, the former Vice President believes they will be able to redirect funds toward essential services such as education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and job creation.
“This will also send a strong signal to my own appointed officials that the highest degree of integrity is demanded of them, or our reinvigorated and well-resourced anti-corruption institutions will go after them”.
He went further by elaborating, “Together, we can build a Liberia that is founded on principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability. I urge you all to support our campaign to fight corruption, as it is crucial for the future prosperity of our beloved nation. Let us stand united in our determination to create a fair and just society for every Liberian, where opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of their background or connections”.
Throughout the first six years of the George W. Bush administration, they have been accused of unimaginable embezzlement. However, this ideology of some citizens, especially the opposition, somehow appears believable, judging from the overwhelming and speedy acquisition of properties or wealth by officials of the government.
Moreover, many also have reasons to believe that the government is enraged by embezzlement, judging from the US sanctions that were placed on three officials of the government.
On August 15, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Liberian government officials Nathaniel McGill, Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and Bill Twehway for their involvement in ongoing public corruption in Liberia.
These officials, according to the sanctions report, are designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world.
“Through their corruption, these officials have undermined democracy in Liberia for their own personal benefit,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. The Treasury’s designations today demonstrate that the United States remains committed to holding corrupt actors accountable and to the continued support of the Liberian people.”
As disclosed by the US, Corruption has long undermined Liberia’s democracy and its economy, robbing the Liberian people of funds for public services, empowering illicit actors, degrading the business environment, and damaging the rule of law and effective governance in the country. Corruption also contributes to diminished confidence in government and the public’s perception of impunity for those in power.
These designations reaffirm the commitment of the United States to hold corrupt actors accountable. The United States is a proud and dedicated partner and friend of Liberia, stands with the people of Liberia in support of democracy and the rule of law, and will continue to promote accountability for corrupt actors, regardless of their position or political affiliation.
The United States says it is also committed to working with the people and Government of Liberia to elevate countering corruption as a priority, including by bolstering public sector anti-corruption capacity and reviewing and re-evaluating criteria for bilateral and multilateral assistance, including around transparency and accountability. Holding corrupt actors accountable and bolstering anti-corruption efforts are both consistent with and reflect our commitment to implementing the United States Strategy on Countering Corruption.
