Ombudsman Office Remains Silent, As Liberian 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 T𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐞 𝐂𝐒𝐀 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐝ly Breaching Code Of Conduct

PHOTO: CSA boss Josiah Joekia, Sen. Amara Konneh and the National Code of Conduct

By Frank Sainworla, Jr., newspublictrust@gmail.com

Nearly a week after Civil Service Agency (CSA) Director General, Dr. Josiah Joekai participated in a political rally to endorse current President Joseph Boakai for the 2029 presidential election, the office of the Ombudsman continues to remain tightlipped on claims that the CSA boss violated the National Code of Conduct Act, but the Senate is taking seize of the matter.

“The Office ensures that public officials comply with ethical standards outlined in the Code of Conduct. This includes taking disciplinary action against violators,” says the Ombudsman Office explaining its mandate on its official webside. Mandate and Key Functions – Office of the Ombudsman – ROL

The Ombudsman Office further lists a number of powers it has including “Monitoring compliance, investigation of complaints, oversight role and evaluation of compliance.”

But Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh was one of the first to take Joekai to task, accusing him of violating Liberia’s Code of Conduct and other laws governing the conduct of presidential appointees.

Sen. Konneh’s position is being backed by Part V of the Code of Conduct which says:

“5.1 All Officials appointed by the President of the Republic of Liberia shall not: a) engage in political activities, canvass or contest for elected offices; b) use Government facilities, equipment or resources in support of partisan or political activities; c) serve on a campaign team of any political party, or the campaign of any independent candidate,” says the Code of the Conduct law.

Articles 5.3 and 5.8 goes further to explain why such action is considered a breach of the National Code of Conduct Act.

“5.3 It is unlawful for any public official to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or to attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other persons to vote or not to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other persons to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for any elected public office.

“5.8 It is unlawful for any Civil Servant employed in any branch of the Government to use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election or affecting the result thereof. No officer or employee in the Executive Branch of Government, or any agency or department thereof, shall take any active part in political management or in political campaigns. All such persons shall retain the right to vote as they may choose and to express their opinions on all political subjects,” the National Code of Conduct Act adds.

However, reacting to Sen. Konneh’s condemnation of his move to openly participate in a public political rally, the CSA boss claimed he has done nothing wrong.

“Civil service regulations are binding on civil servants, not political appointees,” Joekai said, although Part V of the National Code of Conduct says “5.1 All Officials appointed by the President of the Republic of Liberia…”

The action of the CSA boss has continued to spark serious public debate.

So on Thursday, May 28, 2026, the issue was introduced to the Senate’s plenary by Sen. Amara Konneh through a communication he sent that was read on the floor of the upper chamber of the Liberian Legislature.

SEE FULL TEXT OF SENATE PRESS RELEASE BELOW:

Monrovia— Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh is calling on the Liberian Senate to bring Civil Service Agency Director General Josiah Joekai before lawmakers over claims that he violated the National Code of Conduct.

In a communication dated May 28, 2026, to Senate President Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Konneh said the request stems from “serious and widely circulated” allegations that Joekai engaged in partisan political activity.

The Code of Conduct, under Part V, Section 5.1, prohibits all presidential appointees from taking part in partisan politics.

That includes holding party leadership positions, campaigning for office, working on campaign teams, and using state resources for political purposes.

“As a presidential appointee, the CSA Director General is fully bound by these provisions,” Senator Konneh stated.

He added that the CSA itself had recently dismissed civil servants for similar violations.

Konneh cited visual evidence allegedly showing Joekai wearing a T-shirt supporting a political movement backing President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s potential 2029 re-election bid.

He warned that if confirmed, the act would breach the code and erode the political neutrality expected of integrity institutions like the CSA.

Following the communication, Grand Cape Mount County Senator Simeon B. Taylor moved that the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Autonomous Commissions review the matter and report back within one week.

The motion was overwhelmingly passed.

The committees are now set to examine the allegations and determine whether the CSA boss violated the law