Liberia CSOs Anti-Corruption Coalition

OVERVIEW:

 

Law aiming to prevent corruption and bribery and to regulate the asset declaration procedure in Liberia has been in force since 2008. “Executive Order number 55 on Asset Declaration, Bribery and the Fight Against Corruption”. Yet,  Liberians don’t have information to any asset declared by appointed public officials who are supposed to declare their wealth. Because this Law states that asset declarations must be kept confidential.

 

All around the world in developed democracies, the asset declarations of politicians and senior bureaucrats are open to the public. Even in countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Bolivia, Uganda, Algeria, Thailand and many more countries with high levels of perceived corruption that are faced with challenges regarding democracy, politicians’ asset declarations are accessible online. As such, Liberia lacks the basic mechanisms needed for transparency and integrity in its asset declaration regime.

 

Given the context, the Asset Declaration Monitoring & Advocacy Project (AD-MAP) proposed by the Liberia CSOs Anti-Corruption Coalition seeks to promote transparency, public monitoring, effective submission and accessibility of asset declaration information in Liberia. Through this project, LCACC will carry out public engagement activities involving statutory government institutions implementing the Asset Declaration regime as well as lobby with key members of the Liberian Legislature to ensure an amendment in the current Asset Declaration law in making asset declaration information public and accessible.

 

The project will also increase citizen knowledge on the importance of asset declaration, demand public officials especially newly appointed officials to declare their asset prior to taking offices and engage with the Liberian Senate to ensure that asset declaration is a requirement for confirmation. The project is intended to enhance transparency and promote a system which holds public authorities accountable and makes asset declarations more transparent and open to monitoring and enable citizens to participate in monitoring and provide an effective audit mechanism, thus establishing an approach to governance which prevents corruption and bribery.

 

An analysis of relevant stakeholders will be carryout to establish strategic partnership with institution such as the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, General Auditing Commission, National Legislature, Governance Commission and CBOs for the successful implementation of the project.

 

OBJECTIVES:

 

The project objectives are four.

 

1. To increase asset declarations by the people who are legally bound to declare their assets;

2. To advocate for an official website compiling asset declarations should be established and the data should be open to the public and updated regularly.

3. To ensure asset declarations be audited and monitored regularly for significant changes.

4. To enhance transparency in asset declaration.