We are pleased to share an important press statement from our Executive Chairperson regarding the recent asset declaration process. 

Please see the full statement below:

Good morning, ladies, and gentlemen of the press, and to all Liberians. Thank you all for being here today. I am Cllr. Alexandra Zoe, Executive Chairperson, of the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission. 

This press conference today is to provide the public with updates on the Asset Declaration regulation that was published on May 2nd, 2024, which set July 31st, 2024, as the deadline for appointed, elected and selected Public Officials of government from January 2024 to present to declare their asset in keeping with the law.

The primary purpose of the Asset Declaration exercise is to ensure that public officials comply with the National Code of Conduct and the LACC regulations regarding the declaration of their assets, incomes and liabilities. This exercise is crucial in preventing and detecting illicit enrichment, conflicts of interest, and other forms of corruption.
Overview of the Exercise:

1. Participation and Compliance:

As per our regulations, we were able to identify 1,900 employees and public officials of government that are required to declare.  We hereby report that only 26.5% of public officials participated in this exercise as per our record.

The LACC in fulfillment of the “Rule of Law” pillar of the Government of Liberia’s ARREST agenda, also provided copy of an “National Integrity Pledge” to be executed by officials of government who were declaring their assets.

Key Findings:

1. Compliance Levels:

In the Legislative branch, of the total number of 73 elected Representatives, only 26 Representatives were in compliant demonstrating their commitment to the rule of law, while 47 were non-compliant. The 56 administrative staff of the House of Representative that were identified, only 1 staff was in compliant demonstrating commitment to rule of law.

Still in the Legislative branch, of the total number of 30 elected Senators, only 12 were in compliant demonstrating their commitment to the rule of law, while 18 were non-compliant. The 44 administrative staff of the House of senate that were identified, non-complied.

In the Executive Branch, of the 1,281 officials appointed who are required to declare their assets, only 322 officials fully complied with the declaration requirements, while 959 are non-compliant. We also received 84 asset declaration from non -appointed employees of government thus bringing the total number of asset declaration received from the Executive branch of government to 406 demonstrating their commitment to transparency.

In the Judiciary branch a total number of 333 persons are required to declare, only 28 officials were in compliant, including 7 judges and 21 administrative staffs were in compliant demonstrating their commitment to transparency, while 305 were non-compliant.  

I would like to in this public manner also state that there are other members staff from the three branches of government who are also non-compliant in declaring their assets. Our next course of actions will be to request the listing of staff from government institution, match them against our current records and address them like we will address all other non-compliance.

The Asset Declaration exercise is a vital tool in our fight against corruption. It enhances public trust in our institutions by holding public officials accountable and ensuring that they lead by example. Transparency in asset declarations also acts as a deterrent to corrupt practices and promotes a culture of integrity.

Next Steps:

1. Follow-Up Actions:

Over the next few days, we will compile a full listing of the Asset Declarations and publish them for the public consumption.
We will also recommend to the relevant authorities to enforce sanctions against these non-compliant. (Eg. Withholding of salaries, suspension until compliance.)

2. Continuous Monitoring:

Asset declarations will be monitored regularly to ensure ongoing compliance for new appointments, change in positions etc.

3. Public Awareness:

We will launch public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the importance of asset declarations and how they can contribute to the fight against corruption.

In closing, I want to thank all public officials who participated in this exercise and demonstrated their commitment to transparency and accountability. I also extend my gratitude to our dedicated team for their hard work and support during these exercises.

Together, we are making significant strides in our mission to build a corruption-free Liberia. Let us continue to work collectively to uphold the principles of integrity and transparency in all our endeavors.

Thank you. I will now take any questions you may have.