“Numerous developments in Liberia have the propensity to undermine the integrity and accountability credentials of the Liberian Government,” a local anti-corruption campaign group, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTA) has said in a statement issued in Monrovia at the weekend,
The most recent development cited by the group is a leaked communications signed by heads of nine international missions including the US Ambassador to Liberia on the CDC government’s practice of withdrawing donors funds from the Central Bank of Liberia and misdirecting or squandering them.
Information Minister Eugene Nagbe earlier this week confirmed that the letter was authentic but said similar letters have been written to past government.
He justified the diversion of the donor money but said the government back in 2018 was in dire need of funds to pay civil servants and do other things and that no one ate the money, which the government would replace.
“We are deeply concerned about authenticated communications circulating on social media, published in newspapers, and as well as statements from development partners and public integrity institutions pointing to deception, alleged corruption and abuse of public trust and resources by government officials. These include, but are not limited to a communication from key Embassies and Missions in Liberia cautioning government against misuse of donors’ funds and recent statement from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission highlighting discrepancies in assets, incomes and liabilities declared by some public officials, in compliance with the Code of Conduct for Public Officials.”
CENTAL said in addition to the missing 16 billion Liberian Dollars saga, National Housing Authority Corruption scandal and other occurrences of the past, these recent developments place further dent on the country’s image and the government’s fight against corruption.
This, the transparency group says has been underwhelming since President Weah assumed power in 2018. CENTAL believes that not much has happened to decisively deal with Corruption, including comprehensive audit of the past administration and prosecution of those who abused public assets and resources, including officials that presided over Bankruptcy of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL).
It also cites delay in completing investigation into grave matters such as the $25 million mop-up exercise, when substantial work had already been carried out by the Presidential Investigative Team, do not speak to pragmatism and robustness of the government in dealing with corruption.
Meanwhile, CENTAL is strongly encouraging President Weah to be practical and impartial in dealing with corruption, making good on earlier promise made to clean his government of corruption.
It has therefore made a number of recommendations to the Weah government to take actions to stamp the tide of corruption in the country.
The anti-corruption watchdog group wants the timely and impartial implementation of outcomes of ongoing investigation into the $25 million mop-up exercise, expected to be completed within two weeks; that President Weah and the CDC-led Government timely act on grave concerns being raised by donors/development partners.
CENTAL says not doing so may limit donors’ confidence in the government and have serious implications for future funding and support to Liberia.
Other recommendations advanced is that the Legislature be more proactive in playing its various roles, extremely important to enhancing our governance process and addressing the current harsh economic realities Liberians face; that the LACC, GAC, PPCC and other public integrity institutions be given the necessary resources and space to operate, in keeping with their mandates.
And finally, CENTAL is recommending that the media, civil society and other stakeholders remain constructively engaged with the government in demanding accountability and quality service delivery.