Monrovia, Liberia – One of President Boakai’s “Die Hard” followers and a member of his new administration has voiced displeasure about the president’s unwillingness to disclose his financial information.One of the insiders of the Boakai-Koung Administration is the most recent to express concerns regarding President Joseph Boakai’s continued failure to reveal his assets.
Noah Zawu Gibson, who was just appointed to the National Transit Authority as Deputy Managing Director for Operations, is concerned about what seems to be a continued disdain for President Boakai’s pledge to make his assets publicly available upon declaration.
Speaking on Monday, May 20, 2024, at Paynesville on the Punch Breakfast show, the NTA Deputy Director General stated that the Liberian Leader is a champion of accountability and transparency, which makes it crucial to make his assets public, particularly at a time when the country is dealing with a crisis of transparency.
In an effort to root out corruption, Zawu Gibson said that President Boakai’s declaration of his assets is a fulfillment of a pledge made to the Liberian people during his opposition. However, he questions the Liberian leader’s tardiness in publishing the document at a time when the UP-led government is working to advance accountability and transparency in the public sector.
In accordance with clause 10.1 of the code of conduct for public officials, President Joseph Boakai declared his assets but not publish since February 2024, and pledged that transparency is a pillar of his administration.
Opposition to the president’s move was voiced by a number of Liberians who felt that President Boakai’s assets declaration in secret was worse than a declaration itself and that it was unnecessary to disclose his assets.
Zawu Gibson, who has President Boakai’s trust, is currently challenging the Liberian President to show political will to advance good governance by publishing his previously disclosed assets.
According to President Boakai’s DDG of NTA, the President must show that he is prepared to combat corruption by making sure that his assets and that of his officials including the vice president asset declaration are made public.
It was reported recently by LACC that out 500 plus government officials in office, only 75 persons have declared their asserts. This statement was debunked by Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana, noting that the number put out by the LACC was inaccurate.
Madam Fofana when asked if she had declared her assets could not find her words as she is also a victim of not publishing her assets since taking key role in the Boakai administration.
