The integrity group, Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia or CENTAL, strongly encourages President George Manneh Weah to be practical and impartial in dealing with corruption, and make good on earlier promise to clean his government of corruption.
In a press statement here, CENTAL recommends five actions to government that should be taken urgently to savage the current economic condition in the country, including timely and impartial implementation of outcomes of ongoing investigation into the US25 million allegedly used by government to mop up excess liquidity in the market; timely action on grave concerns being raised by donors and development partners.
It warns that not doing so may limit donors’ confidence in the government and have serious implications for future funding and support to Liberia.
CENTAL also wants the Legislature of Liberia to be more proactive in playing its various roles, extremely important to enhancing governance process and addressing the current harsh economic realities faced by Liberians, and that the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission, General Auditing Commission, Public Procurement Concession Commission and other public integrity institutions be given the necessary resources and space to operate, in keeping with their mandates.
It calls on the media, civil society and other stakeholders remain constructively engaged with the government in demanding accountability and quality service delivery.
“CENTAL believes that not much has happened to decisively deal with corruption, including comprehensive audit of the past administration and prosecution of those who abused public assets and resources, including officials that presided over bankruptcy of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL). Also, delay in completing investigation into grave matters such as the US25 million mop-up exercise, when substantial work had already been carried out by the Presidential Investigative Team, do not speak to pragmatism and robustness of the government in dealing with corruption”, the statement notes. Story by Jonathan Browne
