Liberian President Joseph Boakai has suspended more than 450 top government officials, including ministers, for failing to declare their assets as required by law.
The affected officials include the ministers of education and health, special envoys for tourism and investment, and several county administrators. According to a statement from the presidency, they will remain suspended without pay for one month or until they submit their asset declarations.
Boakai, who took office last year with a pledge to fight corruption, emphasized that failing to declare assets violates the code of conduct for public officials and undermines efforts to promote transparency and accountability.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has published a list of all 457 suspended officials, reinforcing that asset declaration is a legal obligation for public officers before assuming and after leaving government positions.
The crackdown has sparked mixed reactions. Political analyst Abdullah Kiatamba, quoted by FrontPage Africa, supported Boakai’s anti-corruption stance but acknowledged that some officials may have faced challenges in submitting their declarations.
However, civil society group Solidarity and Trust for a New Day dismissed the suspensions as insufficient, calling them a mere symbolic gesture and a “slap on the wrist.”
Some of the suspended officials have already started visiting LACC offices to comply with the requirement and regain their positions.
Boakai has positioned himself as a reformist, previously taking a 40% salary cut to set an example of responsible governance. His administration follows that of former President George Weah, whose government faced accusations of corruption and excessive spending, leading to widespread protests over rising living costs.
Reiterating his commitment to restoring public trust in government institutions, Boakai stated, “Public officials are reminded that asset declaration is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental measure to promote transparency.”
