By Our Staff Writer
An unknown number of Liberian Senators are yet to declare their assets, in violation of the law.
Liberia has a total of 30 Senators from the fifteen counties. The exact number of delinquent Senators is not known, but they are believed to be in large number, more than one year after the 54th Legislature took office.
Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, who presided over the Tuesday session of the Senate on February 26, 2019, expressed serious concern about the failure of Senators to declare their assets, urging them to do so immediately.
She said the Judiciary and some members of the Executive have already done so, and therefore it was urgent that Senators who are yet to declare their assets make their declarations to the Secretary of the Senate for final submission in line with the law.
Article 10.1 of the Code of Conduct mandates government officials to declare their income, assets and liabilities prior to taking office.
“10.1 Declaration of Assets and Performance Bonds
Every Public Official and Employee of Government involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types shall sign performance or financial bonds and shall in addition declare his or her income, assets and liabilities prior to taking office and thereafter: a. at the end of every three years; b. on promotion or progression from one level to another; c. upon transfer to another public office; and d. upon retirement or resignation.”
President George Manneh Weah himself violated the assets declaration law, as he only declared his asset some six months after his inauguration on January 22, 2018, while at the time none of his officials were believed to have compiled.
Up to one week ago, the President himself did not know how many of his officials in the Executive branch of government had complied with the law.
Recently, he ordered the outgoing head of the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission (LACC), Cllr. James Verdier to submit the names of his officials who have so far submitted their asset declaration papers.