PHOTO: Bono Varmah, D. karn Carlor, George Howe and Abraham Mitchell
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Commissioner for Political and Legal Reform at the Governance Commission George Howe has disclosed that the commission is ready to enforce the implementation of the code of conduct ahead of the 2023 elections.
Since the National Code of Conduct came into force back in 2014, it is yet to be implemented. According to the Act, the office of the Ombudsman is the legal authority responsible to enforce this law. But to date, it is yet to be established.
The government of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf failed to established the Ombudsman Office. And after being in office for the past five years, the government of current President George Weah has so far also failed to set up this important office.
The code of conduct is to set standards of behavior and conduct required of public officials and employees of government which guide, regulate and ensure compliance what the norms and behaviors required of all public officials and employees.
GC Commissioner Howe indicated that the commission will next month begin the discussion with government ministries, agencies, bureaus and commissions purposely for the enforcement and the implementation of the instrument.
Commission Howe spoke recently at the start of a two-day code of conduct popularization internal engagement within the Governance Commission in Monrovia.
Commission Howe stressed the need President Weah to setup the ambone men that will address conflict arising from the code of conduct.
In remarks, the Commissioner for National Integrity System, D. Karn Carlor urged employees at the Governance Commission to put aside their internal fight and work together in ensuring that the code of conduct is implemented.
According to him, the code of conduct is a standard for good governance in Liberia for employees of the government and appointed officials and appealed to GC to help to popularize it to the public.
For her part, the Vice Chairperson designate at the Governance Commission, Elizabelt Dorkin said that the GC will give consideration for proposal by some discussants to print the code of conduct in pocket size.
She said the Governance Commission appreciative of the contributions of the various discussants at the deliberation because they will eventually assist the commission on enforcing the code of conduct.
The code of conduct popularization internal engagement employees of the Governance Commission and representatives of the government agencies, commissions and bureaus continue on Wednesday.
The deliberation was graced by representatives of the National Elections Commission, the Liberia Anti –Corruption Commission, General Auditing Commission, the Ministry of Justice among others.