CSOs Coalition Petitions GoL To Implement ARREST’s Rule of Law Pillar -Expresses Ire for Cold Should by Officials to Take Delivery of Petition

By H Matthew Turry

The governing Unity Party administration came under pressure yesterday, Tuesday, October 8, 2024, when 10 community based civil society organizations under the auspices of the Joint Civil Society Anti-Corruption Initiative (JOSCAI) demanded an expeditious and comprehensive implementation of the rule of law pillar of its ARREST Agenda.

With support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), the group petitioned President Joseph N. Boakai, asking him to implement his promised fight against corruption and the rule of law in the ARREST agenda.

Reading the petition yesterday, JOSCAI Program Manager Adolphus V. Banks demanded the government to establish and ensure the full operationalization of the Witness Protection Unit, in line with section 1 of the Witness Protection Act of 202.

The petition acknowledged in its preamble that the Witness Protection Law was passed by the National Legislature providing for the establishment of the Witness Protection Unit that should be established and empowered to provide support to those who would like to testify and provide evidence against corrupt officials and individuals in court, but the Unit is yet to be established to encourage a speedy and evidence-based investigation of corruption cases in Liberia.

The group through its Program Manager called on the president to “Suspend all 959 public officials out of the total of 1,281 appointees, who according to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission’s August 2024 report, have not declared their assets, incomes, and liabilities, thus grossly violating Part 10 of the amended Code of Conduct for public officials.

The JOSCAI petition to the president also spoke of making timely and speedy decisions in cases of violation of state laws and corruption involving the refusal of government officials to declare their assets upon assuming office is critical to ending the culture of impunity for corruption in society and maintaining public trust in the country’s governance and accountability system.

The group in its petition also urged the Liberian leader to submit a Bill to the Legislature for the removal of the Statute of Limitation that prohibits prosecution of corruption cases after five years, according to Chapters 4.2 and 4.3 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia.

According to the petitioners, the statute of limitations on corruption cases according to the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia Chapter 4.2 and 4 3 which places five years’ time limit on the prosecution continues to undermine prosecution of perpetrators of corruption crimes and serves as an impetus to the high-level of impunity for corruption in Liberia.

The law spoke of, according to the group of CSOs, “adequately and timely funds public integrity and anti-graft institutions leading Liberia fight against corruption, fraud, waste and abuse.

“These include, but are not limited to the Liberia Ant- Commission, General Auditing Commission (GAC), Liberia Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI), Financial Intelligence Agency FIA).”

The group reminded Government that the fight against corruption in Liberia remains challenged and undermined by several factors, including the weak enforcement of anti-corruption laws and policies, the absence and limitation of key institutions for dealing with corruption in Liberia, and limited political will to decisively act against public officials and other individuals at the center of allegations of bad governance and Corruption.

“Pursue an impartial and a holistic fight against corruption that sees no sacred cows or does not protect the interest of certain individuals and groups, in part through taking timely and appropriate administrative and other actions against officials of the UP-led accused of grave acts of corruption and of abuse of public resources and trust,” JOSCAI told president Boakai in its petition.

Recounting Liberia’s commitments to international instruments, the petitioners further recalled that Liberia has signed up to key international anti-corruption frameworks such as United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) as well as developed the ARREST Agenda particularly Pillar 4 on Good Governance and Rule of Law with Pillar six being keen on combating corruption in Liberia

“Following years of inaction by the Liberian government, it is time that actions be taken against those credibly accused of corruption and bad governance, including those sanctioned by the US government on corruption allegations and officials who have refused to declare their assets, incomes, and liabilities in blatant violation of the laws and yet sit comfortably in public offices without any reprimand”, the petitioners said.

In an expectation that the petition from the petitioners would be received by government officials, there was none to do so, as JOSCAI says, it was met with cold shoulder with neither the president nor any representatives from the executive coming out to receive the presentation from the campaigners.

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