President Boakai Yet to Receive LACC Report on Asset Declaration Compliance

Monrovia — The Executive Mansion has disclosed that President Joseph Boakai has not yet received the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) report on asset declaration compliance among public officials. The report, released last week, reveals alarmingly low compliance rates, with only 26.5% of officials across the three branches of government adhering to asset declaration requirements.

LACC Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe called for stringent measures, including suspension and withholding of salaries, for non-compliant officials. However, Presidential Press Secretary Ms. Kula Fofana stated on Friday that the LACC’s report has not yet reached the Office of the President. “The President is still awaiting the report,” she said.

The LACC initiated the asset declaration process on May 2, 2024, with a deadline set for July 31, 2024. This process required all appointed, elected, and selected public officials to declare their assets, incomes, and liabilities in accordance with the National Code of Conduct and LACC regulations. The primary objective of this exercise is to prevent and detect illicit enrichment, conflicts of interest, and other forms of corruption.

The findings of the LACC report reveal significant non-compliance across all branches of government. In the Legislative branch, compliance rates are particularly low, with only 26 out of 73 lawmakers in the House of Representatives declaring their assets, leaving 47 non-compliant. In the Senate, only 12 out of 30 senators have complied, with 18 failing to declare their assets.

The Executive branch, which has the highest number of officials required to declare assets, also shows a significant gap. Out of the 1,281 public officials appointed by President Boakai, only 332 have complied, leaving 959 non-compliant. Additionally, 84 non-presidential appointees, including comptrollers and procurement directors, have declared their assets. Cllr. Zoe expressed concern over these figures, stating, “The compliance rate in the Executive Branch is concerning. We expected a higher level of adherence to the asset declaration requirements.”

In the Judicial branch, of the 333 officials required to declare assets, only 28 have complied, including seven judges and 21 administrative staff, leaving 305 non-compliant. Cllr. Zoe stressed the importance of transparency in the Judiciary for maintaining public trust, expressing disappointment over the low compliance rate.

To address this widespread non-compliance, the LACC plans to compile and publish a full listing of the asset declarations for public consumption. The commission will also recommend sanctions against non-compliant officials and implement continuous monitoring to ensure ongoing compliance for new appointments and changes in positions. Additionally, public awareness campaigns will be launched to educate citizens on the importance of asset declarations and their role in combating corruption.

Cllr. Zoe reiterated the LACC’s commitment to enforcing compliance, stating, “We are recommending stringent measures ranging from suspension to withholding of salaries for officials who fail to declare their assets.”