Published: September 10, 2024
GANTA – Five members of Nimba County’s legislative caucus, along with key local officials, have violated the National Code of Conduct’s mandate requiring public officials to declare their assets, income, and liabilities both before assuming office and periodically afterward.
Among the violators are Senators Prince Yormie Johnson and Nya D. Twayen, Jr., as well as Representatives Samuel N. Brown of District 1, Nyah G. Flomo of District 2, and Saye S. Miannah of District 8. These legislators, all listed as “non-compliant” by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), failed to adhere to the asset declaration guidelines.
Meanwhile, Representatives Taa Wongbe (District 9), Ernest M. Manseah (District 4), Musa Hassan Bility (District 7), Nehkeh E. Gaye (District 3), Samuel G. Kogar (District 5), and Dorwon T. Gleekia (District 6) have complied with the mandate, submitting their asset declarations.
In addition to the lawmakers, County Administrative Officer Daniel S. Zekpeh, County Development Officer Peter S. Karngbaye, and County Finance Officer Dudley Debois have also been flagged for violating the asset declaration requirements. These officials, who represent the Executive branch at the county level, failed to comply with the provision set out in Article 10.1 of the National Code of Conduct, which mandates public officials involved in decision-making related to contracts, procurement, and licensing to declare their assets.
LACC Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe, speaking at a Ministry of Information press briefing, revealed that only 26.5% (473 officials) of 1,900 public officials across all three branches of government declared their assets by the July 31 deadline. Despite a subsequent increase in compliance, bringing the figure to 53%, a significant number of officials remain non-compliant.
Senator Johnson, currently serving his third nine-year term, and Representative Brown, a long-standing member of the Legislature, have yet to declare their assets despite years in public service. First-term legislators Nyah G. Flomo and Saye S. Miannah also remain non-compliant, while Senator Twayen, who took office in May 2024 following the election of former Senator Jeremiah Kpan Koung to the Vice Presidency, has similarly failed to comply.
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