Published: March 18, 2026
Cllr. Finley Y. Karngar
MONROVIA — The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has accused President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of weakening the country’s anti-corruption fight by accepting the resignation of Ombudsman Chairperson Cllr. Finley Y. Karngar without acting on an investigation that recommended his dismissal and possible criminal prosecution.
At a press conference Tuesday, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson D. Miamen said the president’s decision sends the wrong signal at a time when public confidence in accountability institutions remains fragile.
Karngar resigned shortly after a detailed investigation linked him to allegations of soliciting financial benefits from his Special Assistant, including US$30–35 in scratch cards and 50 percent of the assistant’s US$1,000 salary, amounting to an estimated US$2,000 over four months between April and July 2025.
The report recommended his dismissal and a criminal probe. However, President Boakai accepted the resignation and commended Karngar for his service, a move CENTAL says sidestepped the gravity of the findings.
“This action undermines accountability,” Miamen said, noting that the Executive Mansion’s March 10 statement failed to reference the investigation or its recommendations.
Pattern of Allegations
CENTAL further pointed out that the case marks the second major corruption allegation involving Karngar, citing earlier reports in late 2025 linking him to alleged kickbacks from a landlord renting property to the Ombudsman.
According to the group, the allegations, combined with claims that Karngar failed to cooperate fully with investigators, constitute clear violations of the National Code of Conduct, which his office is mandated to enforce.
Calls for Dismissal, Prosecution
CENTAL said accepting Karngar’s resignation without formal dismissal or prosecution risks normalizing impunity within government.
“We strongly believe that President Boakai should have referenced the investigative report, commended those who exposed the wrongdoing, and dismissed Cllr. Karngar instead of allowing him to resign,” Miamen said.
The group is calling for full implementation of the report’s recommendations, including restitution, sanctions and criminal prosecution.
It also urged the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to take over the matter and provide the public with updates on any investigation.
Concerns Over Uneven Enforcement
CENTAL raised broader concerns about what it described as an inconsistent approach by the Executive Mansion in handling corruption cases.
The group cited a separate case involving Liberia Airport Authority Managing Director Ernest Hughes, who has been accused of soliciting a 15 percent kickback from a Canadian aviation contractor tied to a nearly US$1 million transaction at Roberts International Airport.
While the LAA Board moved to suspend Hughes and refer the matter to the Ministry of Justice, he was instead granted leave of absence before the suspension could take effect. The Executive Mansion has instructed the Justice Ministry to conclude its investigation by March 30.
Miamen said the differing responses point to selective enforcement.
“The president appears to be picking and choosing — suspending some officials while allowing others to quietly resign without facing the full weight of the law,” he said.
Call for Consistency
CENTAL warned that such inconsistencies risk eroding public trust and weakening Liberia’s anti-corruption framework.
The organization is urging the government to adopt a uniform approach — one that ensures that allegations of corruption are met with consistent actions, including suspension, dismissal and prosecution where evidence warrants.
“The cases involving Karngar and Hughes highlight the urgent need for stronger, more consistent enforcement,” Miamen said. “Anything short of that undermines the fight against corruption.”
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