President Boakai Discloses
PHOTO: (L-R) Former Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Manneh Weah
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
In the wake to implement the code of conduct and to punish corrupt officials, Liberia’s newly inaugurated President Joseph Nyumah Boakai has disclosed that the establishment of the office of the Ombudsman is in full swing.
Due to the absent of the office of ombudsman, several corrupt cases have gone under the carpet without prosecution.
This has been in violation of the 2014 National Code of Conduct Act.
During her 12 years in power, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her Unity Party which government Boakai served for 12 years, failed to set up an Ombudsman Office. Weah and his CDC government which took power in January 12018 also failed to set up this important office responsible to enforce the Code of Conduct.
PART XII: THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF OMBUDSMAN 12.1 says: “The Office of an Ombudsman is hereby established as an independent autonomous body which shall be responsible for the enforcement, oversight, monitoring and evaluation of the adherence to the Code of Conduct. 12.2 The Office of Ombudsman shall receive and investigate all complaints, in respect to the adherence to the Code of Conduct. In the case where there is a determination of guilt and violation of the code by private and Public Officials and Employees of Government, said violation shall be submitted by the Ombudsman to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) or other relevant Agencies of Government. The Office of the Ombudsman shall be responsible to collaborate with the three Branches of Government and Civil Society Organizations in order to develop regulations for the Code of Conduct.”
For example, the National Elections Commission Chairperson, Davidetta Browne Lasannah was indicted on several charges including corruption and taken to court but she was clear of those charges due to the absent of ombudsman office. https://newspublictrust.com/criminal-court-c-clears-nec-boss-of-criminal-charges-in-absence-of-ombudsman-office
According to President Boakai in his State of the Nation Address today, Monday, January 29, 2024, passage of the Code of Conduct for public officials has not had the full effect of the Law. A major hurdle is a lack of ‘implementation infrastructure’.
“To this end, there is a need to establish the Office of the Ombudsman.
He added: ”When established, this office will supervise the enforcement of all provisions of the Code of Conduct and will also impose sanctions for infractions. We must begin looking at appointing an individual with the requisite moral standing to head and run the office.”