CAPITOL HILL – The head of Liberia’s Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) has warned that President Joseph Boakai’s flagship anti-corruption campaign could collapse under the weight of severe budgetary neglect, despite early gains and widespread public support.
Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, Executive Director of AREPT, told lawmakers on Thursday that without urgent funding, the administration’s promise to hold corrupt officials accountable and recover stolen wealth is in danger of being derailed.
“If this continues, the momentum could be lost,” Martin declared during his appearance at the Capitol. “We’ve made significant gains, but without funding, those gains could quickly erode.”
The stark warning underscores growing concerns among anti-corruption advocates that the
Momentum in Jeopardy
Since its formation through Executive Order #126 in early March, AREPT has launched 28 investigations into suspected cases of illicit enrichment and asset theft, with 17 of those cases already nearing the prosecution stage. The taskforce has also begun auditing at least 30 properties allegedly acquired under suspicious circumstances by current and former government officials.
Martin said the unit continues to receive daily complaints from citizens, ranging from encroachments on public land to ownership of lavish mansions and vehicles linked to officials without credible income sources.
Yet, despite this progress, AREPT was reportedly excluded from the Ministry of Finance’s draft 2025 National Budget, threatening its ability to operate even at a basic level.
“Without funding, we can’t pay local investigators, conduct audits, or take cases to court,” Martin told lawmakers. “Political will is not enough. Fighting corruption costs money.”
International Support, Domestic Apathy
In what many consider a notable achievement, AREPT has already secured technical partnerships with several international firms, including FCI Consulting—a UK-based forensic accounting firm—and two law firms with experience tracing assets hidden in foreign jurisdictions.
“These partnerships are essential for following international wire transfers, tracking offshore accounts, and identifying shell companies,” Martin explained. “But what good is global support if we cannot afford fuel for our field agents or printers for court documents?”
Martin said the taskforce’s inability to secure even minimal operating funds from the government may signal a dangerous double standard.
“It sends the wrong message. The international community is watching. The Liberian people are watching. If this administration is serious about fighting corruption, then this taskforce must be funded.”
“No Statute of Limitations on Corruption”
In addition to financial support, Martin called on lawmakers to amend Chapter 4, Subsection 4.2 of the Criminal Procedure Law, which currently places a five-year limit on prosecuting economic crimes.
“There should be no statute of limitations on corruption,” he said, noting that most illicit wealth is hidden through layered transactions that require extensive time to investigate.
Cllr. Martin also urged lawmakers to fast-track the recast budget to include allocations for AREPT, stating, “We’re not asking for millions. We just need basic funding to sustain what we’ve already begun.”
From Boakai’s First Executive Order to a Budget Roadblock
President Boakai signed Executive Order #126 on March 6, 2024, shortly after taking office, establishing AREPT as the lead agency in recovering stolen national assets and holding public officials accountable.
The Executive Order authorized the taskforce to trace, freeze, and recover both fixed and liquid assets acquired through corrupt means. It also mandated the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to fund the taskforce’s operations, signaling the President’s intent to bypass bureaucratic delays and make swift headway in asset recovery.
The Order empowers AREPT to pursue cases within and outside Liberia, including initiating criminal prosecutions, civil suits, and even securing extraditions for suspects hiding abroad. It also authorized restrictions on travel for individuals under investigation.
Lawmakers’ Inaction Could Doom ARREST Agenda
The appeal comes at a pivotal time for the Boakai administration, which campaigned on the ARREST agenda—Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism—with a strong emphasis on transparency and governance reform.
Yet critics warn that unless the Legislature swiftly includes AREPT in the recast budget and operationalizes its mandate, the administration risks repeating the failures of past regimes that promised reform but lacked follow-through.
“Talk is cheap,” said an employee of the AREPT who asked for anynomity. “The real test is whether lawmakers and the Ministry of Finance will match the President’s rhetoric with actual support.”
Public Expectations High
“There’s no turning back now,” Martin said. “The Liberian people expect prosecutions. They expect to see stolen assets returned. They expect justice.”
He cautioned that public confidence, once lost, may be difficult to rebuild.
“If we let this slip, it could be years before the people believe again that real change is possible.”
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