Latest news with #LiberiaAnti-CorruptionCommission
Associated Press
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Liberia's president suspends over 450 government officials for failing to declare their assets
MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Liberia's President Joseph Boakai has suspended more than 450 government officials who failed to declare their assets on time, in a move that comes as part of an anti-corruption drive by the West African country's leader. The suspensions are to last for a month or until those suspended declare their assets to the anti-corruption agency. Liberia was shaken by anti-government demonstrations in December that included the parliament building in Monrovia, the country's capital, catching fire. Boakai was elected in November 2023 on a promise of fighting corruption in the small country of 5 million people. Liberia ranked 135th out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index last year, according to Transparency International. 'The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission has provided a list of non-compliant officials, and those listed are now suspended for a period of one month without pay or until they submit the required declarations,' the president said in a statement on Wednesday. Liberian law requires all government officials to declare their assets upon taking and leaving office. Among the 457 suspended officials are the ministers for education and health, as well as the minister overseeing the budget. Bokai said their failure to declare assets before the deadline last November undermined 'national efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability.' Last July, Boakai said he'd reduce his salary by 40% in a effort to demonstrate 'responsible governance' and show 'solidarity' with Liberians. The government of his predecessor, George Weah, had faced accusations of corruption and lavish spending in one of the world's poorest countries, sparking mass protests. After the announcement, some of the suspended officials appeared on Wednesday at the commission's offices to declare their assets and fulfill compliance requirements.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Liberian president suspends hundreds of officials over asset declaration failure
Liberian President Joseph Boakai has suspended more than 450 top government officials, including ministers, for failing to declare their assets to the anti-corruption agency. They will be off work without pay for a month or "until they submit the required declarations", according to the presidency. Boakai said that the officials had contravened the code of conduct for state officials by not being transparent about what they own. The president, who had pledged to fight corruption when he came into office last year, said failure to comply undermined efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability. Among those suspended include the ministers for education and health, as well as the special envoys for tourism and investment. They also include officials working for the Executive Mansion, the official residence of the president, and county administrative officials. The law requires all public officers to declare their wealth before taking up their posts and when they leave positions in government. The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) published the list of all the 457 affected public officials, noting it was doing so as prescribed by law. Boakai, who pledged to fight corruption when he came into office last year, said failure to comply undermined efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability. Who is Liberian President Joseph Boakai? "Public officials are reminded that asset declaration is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental measure to promote transparency and restore public trust in governmental institution," he said in a statement. Last July, the president announced that he was reducing his salary by 40%, saying he hoped to set a precedent for "responsible governance" and demonstrate "solidarity" with Liberians. The government of his predecessor, George Weah, had faced accusations of corruption and lavish spending, sparking mass protests amid a rise in the cost of living. On Wednesday, some of the suspended officials visited the anti-corruption commission offices in order to comply with the requirement. There has been mixed reaction over the president's move. Political analyst Abdullah Kiatamba was quoted by Liberian newspaper FrontPage Africa as being supportive of the president's anti-corruption stance, but raised concerns about the challenges some officials faced in submitting their asset declarations. Civil society group Solidarity and Trust for a New Day described Boakai's move as insufficient. "Suspending these officials for just one month is a meaningless, symbolic gesture - a slap on the wrist that no serious person should take seriously," it said in a statement. Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
13-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Liberia anti-corruption: President Boakai suspends top officials for non-declaration of assets
Liberian President Joseph Boakai has suspended more than 450 top government officials, including ministers, for failing to declare their assets to the anti-corruption will be off work without pay for a month or "until they submit the required declarations", according to the said that the officials had contravened the code of conduct for state officials by not being transparent about what they president, who had pledged to fight corruption when he came into office last year, said failure to comply undermined efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability. Among those suspended include the ministers for education and health, as well as the special envoys for tourism and also include officials working for the Executive Mansion, the official residence of the president, and county administrative law requires all public officers to declare their wealth before taking up their posts and when they leave positions in Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) published the list of all the 457 affected public officials, noting it was doing so as prescribed by who pledged to fight corruption when he came into office last year, said failure to comply undermined efforts to combat corruption and ensure is Liberian President Joseph Boakai?"Public officials are reminded that asset declaration is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental measure to promote transparency and restore public trust in governmental institution," he said in a July, the president announced that he was reducing his salary by 40%, saying he hoped to set a precedent for "responsible governance" and demonstrate "solidarity" with government of his predecessor, George Weah, had faced accusations of corruption and lavish spending, sparking mass protests amid a rise in the cost of Wednesday, some of the suspended officials visited the anti-corruption commission offices in order to comply with the has been mixed reaction over the president's move. Political analyst Abdullah Kiatamba was quoted by Liberian newspaper FrontPage Africa as being supportive of the president's anti-corruption stance, but raised concerns about the challenges some officials faced in submitting their asset society group Solidarity and Trust for a New Day described Boakai's move as insufficient."Suspending these officials for just one month is a meaningless, symbolic gesture - a slap on the wrist that no serious person should take seriously," it said in a statement. Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
