MONROVIA – When President Joseph Nyuma Boakai issued an ultimatum for public officials in keeping with the Code of Conduct laws of Liberia to comply with the asset declaration regulation many of those public officials took the President’s instruction for granted.
President Boakai then instructed the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to effectuate his instruction and should take the requisite actions for would-be violators. These public officials had previously violated and disregarded the President’s call to declare their assets.
As so, having carried out the instruction of the President, the Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) Josiah Joekai recently disclosed when he spoke at the regular Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism, that through the withholding of salaries for public officials who declined to comply with the asset declaration regulation of President Boakai, the agency has withheld over US$89,000 from public officials who failed to declare their assets as required by the law.
The Liberia CSA boss stated that the recovered funds will be redirected to supporting President Boakai’s “One Child One Chair” initiative, which will fund the production of more than 2,000 arm chairs and desks by local carpenters from the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) and the Booker Washington Institute (BWI).
The CSA Director General emphasized that this initiative demonstrates the CSA’s commitment to enforcing transparency among public officials and stimulating local and economy growth. “This is both a penalty for noncompliance and also an opportunity to empower local artisans and boost our economy growth,” he intoned.
However, Director Joekai explained that the production of the chairs is expected to begin soon, which according to him will offer a direct investment into Liberia’s skilled sectors.
In related development, Director Joekai revealed disclosed that the Government of Liberia has implemented salaries top-ups for civil servants in key sectors including health, education, agriculture and the security sector, noting that beneficiaries are teachers, securities officers, healthcare workers and agriculture professionals.
Moreover, the CSA has also officially placed 600 out of 761 volunteer health workers on the government payroll marking a significant step in formalizing their employment in ensuring fair compensations.
It can be recalled on November 27, 2024, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai signed final directive on Asset Declaration to all government officials mandating all appointed government officials to comply with the Declaration of Assets requirements as outlined in the 2014 Code of Conduct.
Despite repeated calls for compliance, several officials failed to declare their assets within the required timeframe, contravening Article 2, Section 10.2(h) of the Act to Amend Section 5.2 and Section 10.2 of the 2014 Code of Conduct.
The law stipulates: “An official appointed by the President shall declare his/her assets no later than 30 days after appointment. Failure to comply shall result in immediate suspension from office until full compliance is obtained.”
The directive in November warned that failure to adhere to this directive undermines the core principles of good governance and public accountability. The President then gave all non-compliant officials a final deadline of TEN (10) DAYS—effective November 27, 2024—to complete and submit their assets declarations.
Officials who fail to comply within this period will face immediate suspension from their respective positions, as mandated by law, until they meet the legal requirements.
The President then emphasized his Administration’s unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law, promoting transparency, and ensuring accountability in public service. He also urged all government officials to demonstrate integrity and accountability by adhering to this directive promptly.
This action, the President said in November, reflects the Administration’s dedication to fostering a culture of transparency and trust in public service. President Boakai also called on the Liberian public to continue supporting efforts to uphold good governance and hold officials accountable for their responsibilities.
President Boakai Suspends Officials for Failing to Declare Assets
When public officials again failed to adhere to the final directive to declare their assets, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, took action to suspend all government officials who failed to declare their assets within the required timeframe.
This action was aligned with Article 2, Section 10.2(h) of the Act to Amend Section 5.2 and Section 10.2 of the 2014 Code of Conduct. It followed the President’s directive issued on November 27, 2024, which granted a ten-day grace period for compliance.
Based on a report from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), several non-compliant officials were suspended for one month without pay or until they submitted the required declarations.
The President further warned that failure to comply with asset declaration obligations undermines national efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability. Moving forward, he assured that strict enforcement of legal and ethical standards will remain a priority of his administration.
Based on the President suspending the non-compliant officials of government, the CSA effectuated the required actions to withhold their salaries which amounted to US$89,000 that is now being directed to President Nyuma Boakai’s “One Child One Chair” policy to enhance education in Liberia.
