CSOs Wants Outgoing Government Audited and Prosecuted For Acts of Corruption
By : Laymah Kollie
Liberia-November 20,2023: While the new code of officials elected in the 2023 General Presidential and Representatives Elections are yet to formally be inducted into offices, Civil Society Organizations have already started putting forth recommendations to the new administration. The human rights body is rallying the President -elect Amb. Joseph Nyuma Boakai administration to audit and prosecute officials of the George Weah led government and other regime from 2006 to 2017 for acts of corruption.
The National Elections Commission on November 20,2023 declared Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai Sr. winner of the November 14 Run-off election in the country. According to the NEC results of the 5,890 polling places, Boakai accumulated 814,481 votes constituting 50.64% and incumbent Weah obtaining 793,914 constituting 49.36%.
The President has however sent out his congratulatory message to President-elect Joseph Boakai and urged supporters of the ruling Coliation for Democratic Change to accept the elections results as well.
Reading the statement in a local press conference Monday, Atty. Mmonbeydo Joah, from the Organization for Women and Children called on Amb. Boakai’s administration to be steadfast in auditing and prosecuting officials of past governments that mismanaged public resources.
“Comprehensively audit the outgoing administration and prosecute those who will be identified to have abused public resources and assets. In line due process of law, we call for an objective, thorough and an inclusive process that ensures that any public resources and assets corrupted are identified, retrieved, and used for the benefit of the public/population. We strongly recommend that the process be extended to then/previous Unity Party led administration (2006 to 2017) during which some officials abused public trust and resources, for which they need to be held equally accountable”
The Rights organizations urged the elected government to be robust and implement transparency, accountability to the public in general.
“Collaborate and implement a very transparent, robust transition, and an inclusive process. Among others things, all government properties, assets and finances must be identified and documented with clear reports produced and disseminated to the public. This is important to avoid the mistakes of the past, including claims and counter claims that the CDC led government took over a very broke economy. Finally, ensure accountability for gender equality to make up for the limited women representation in the Legislature”
Meanwhile, the Civil Society Actors then pledged their commitment to strengthening the democracy of Liberia.
“Civil society remains a critical partner in strengthening Liberia’s democracy and accountability cultures. We commit to be steadfast, robust, and objectively critical in engaging with the current and incoming administrations to hold them accountable for their commitments as well as core mandates. If anyone thinks that CSOs will change gears and lower their standards, they are grossly mistaken. We will continue to hold every administration to a very high standard, this new administration being no exception. We will continue to demand that public officials are more accountable to the people and that government dealings are transparent so as to weed out the menace of corruption which has destroyed the fabric of our nation for many years”
The organizations include: the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), Organization for Women and Children (ORWOCH), Accountability Lab Liberia (Alab), Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, Public Health Initiative Liberia (PHIL), Community Healthcare Initiative (CHI), and Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL).
