-As He Promises War against Corruption; Intends to Declare Assets First
By Seykajipo Amegashi
IPNEWS: President-elect Joseph Nyuma Boakai has vowed to conduct an audit of the outgoing Administration of President George Manneh Weah following his inauguration on January 22, 2024.
Speaking to the American broadcaster, Voice of America’s Peter Clottey on Thursday, December 21st, the Liberian President-elect indicated that the audit is going to be a part of his fight against corruption in the Liberian Government.
President-elect Boakai, who served as Vice President to former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, further stated that the audit will be done in close collaboration with Liberia’s international partners in order to ensure it succeeds and meets international best standard. Liberia’s incoming President also clarified that the audit is not intended to witch-hunt anyone but people have to account for their stewardship. Mr. Boakai noted that he is not coming into government to shield his friends.
According to him, this will help to set the right record straight.
However, he told the VOA that fighting corruption has to start with the one asking others to have ‘clean hands’.
“Fighting corrupting, it always has to start with yourself; you have to be the example,” he said. According to him, this menace is not only found in the government but has now become a culture within the Liberian society.
Towards this drive, the President-elect assured Liberians that he will firstly declare his assets and hold all other public officials accountable to declare their assets as well.
“We will also make sure that those we will bring to the Cabinet are people of integrity. The purpose of coming to government is to know that is public service and if you are not ready to serve the public, you can go elsewhere. ”
“We want to make sure that we start on a clear note. The people of our country stood on line and protected their votes not to bring a team again that will do the same thing that the other people were doing or worse. So, it’s a clear message: declare your assets, make sure that we are prepared to audit the outgoing government, so that they tell the Liberian people of their stewardship and to make sure that we start on a footing that people know that they have come to serve the public and not themselves,” he stated.
He cautioned his would-be cabinet members and others who may be appointed in his Administration that if any of them doesn’t understand his point, “the axe will fall where it may.”
Weah’s Stance on Audit of His Administration
When talks of auditing his administration began to surface, President George Weah, on Sunday, November 19, 2023, thinks that unity among Liberians and keeping the country peaceful lie in the Boakai-led Administration’s decision not to audit his Administration. The President openly said that doing so would be “witch-hunting”.
He made this statement on that Sunday at his Forky Klon Jlaleh Family Fellowship Church few days after he had conceded to President-elect Boakai.
Weah had urged Boakai not to pursue officials of his government, rather he should follow his example when he decided not to pursue officials of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government in which Boakai was Vice President for 12 years as doing do would have been witch-hunting.
Back to Boakai
The President-elect reiterated his promise about making sure that most of Liberia’s primary roads are passable by vehicles in his first 100 days in office. He will ascend to office two months into the Dry Season in Liberia but most of the hinterland’s roads are going to be very tough to navigate. He said his Administration make interventions on the roads so that vehicles will not get stocked in the mud.
On the issue of job creation, President-elect Boakai intimated that his government will have to impress, attract and encourage investors to invest in the private sector while at the same time open up opportunities for the young people to be trained and become marketable. Mr. Boakai, who is on a private visit to the United States of America, said with his AREST (Agriculture, Roads, Economy, Sanitation & Health and Tourism), which is a portion of his Administration’s wider agenda for development, he will work to build the hope of Liberians. The President-elect also noted that he will involve competent women into his regime because he believes in women’s leadership.
Commenting on the health situation in the country, Amb. Boakai said he’s going to make sure that the health sector is improved and functional. The President-elect said building a structure doesn’t equate it to a hospital or a clinic but must have all of what it takes to make it functional and viable.
He thanked the Liberian people and out-going President George M. Weah for conceding and accepting the results of the elections and praised the people for the resilience and commitment exhibited to protect their votes. Amb. Boakai said the people truly desired a change and pledged to work in the interest of the people.
