MONROVIA: With the Assets recovery declaration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai since Friday, February 2, 2024 viewed as one that is treading the path of vengeance, although the Liberian Chief Executive constituted a government Assets Recovery and Retrieval Taskforce with the responsibility, among other duties, to identify, trace and retrieve all assets of government in and out of Liberia. The taskforce has since been commissioned and has been working, but an influential legislator in the 55th Legislature expressed dissatisfaction with their mode of operation. Nimba County District #7 Representative, Musa Hassan Bility Wrote on his Facebook page, speaking against the conduct of the taskforce.
Rep. Bility wrote, “Don’t rush with asset recovery.” Apparently noticing that the taskforce is mismanaging how they are implementing the task given them, Rep. Bility told the team to be meticulous in carrying out their work.
He wrote telling the team, “First establish the lost assets and publish it. Ask those in possession to return it or face prosecution. And begin to search for the specific assets of the government that are lost.”
He is of the opinion that stopping without any tangible reason just to inquire of their validation of their property, especially vehicles is nonsense.
Accordingly he wrote, “Stop this nonsense of stopping peaceful citizens and asking them to establish their ownership of their vehicles.”
The Nimba County Representative advised that the government must first establish the assets lost before it can start the search for them.
“Come on fellas, you came with experience. Use it. Stop making a mockery of a well-intentioned process,” he said adding, “And to those with government assets, please return it.”
Stating to the former officials that the properties of government are not theirs, Bility wrote. “It’s not yours. Shameless bunch. What a vicious circle of mess after mess!!!!”
Besides the position of Bility, others see the task force of not making any success of asset recovery within the history of successive governments, costing huge expenditure to a very new regime.
It can be recalled that President Joseph Boakai on February 2, 2024, issued the directive that with immediate effect and without any delay and hesitation, former officials of government turn over all assets of government in their possession.
Based on the seriousness he attached to the asset recovery and retrieval exercise, President Boakai subsequently announced the constitution of Government Assets Retrieval Team (GART), charged with the responsibility, among other duties, to identify, trace and retrieve all assets of government in and out of Liberia
The team has been focusing on investigating assets, and also working with the relevant agencies of government to prosecute those found criminally liable for commandeering public properties as the President puts premium on the highest standards of commitment, integrity and patriotism as -hallmark of public service.
But the mode of the team’s operation has been causing apprehension in many quarters, this time warranting the comments of the lawmakers as expressed in his Facebook Page.
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