Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia has signed Executive Order No. 145, extending the Asset Recovery Task Force’s mission for an additional year in an effort to fight corruption and recover embezzled public assets. The action demonstrates his administration’s dedication to economic fairness, accountability, and openness in a nation that has long suffered from financial mismanagement.
The intended purpose of the Task Force, which was created in March 2024, is to find, look into, and recover government-owned property that has been illegally converted for private use by current and past officials. The Task Force’s expanded mission enables it to expand its scope of investigations both nationally and abroad.
Reiterating his administration’s zero-tolerance attitude on corruption, President Boakai stated in a statement that public resources must be protected and restored to serve the interests of the Liberian people.
Executive Order No. 126 created the Task Force in March 2024, but it was immediately met with legal resistance. On March 28, 2024, the Supreme Court, acting through Justice in Chambers Yussif Kaba, issued a stay order in response to the challenge, temporarily stopping the Task Force’s activities. In addition to ordering the Task Force to stop any more seizures until a conference to resolve the legal issues highlighted.
The Task Force will continue to function under the Minister of State for Special Services and work with important government agencies such as the Financial Intelligence Agency, the Liberia Revenue Authority, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Ministry of Justice under the new executive order.
The recovery efforts will be managed by a five-member oversight group, which will be chaired by Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, vice-chaired by Dr. Ranney B. Jackson, and consist of members Crosby Johnson, John Mulbah Gbilee, and Atty. Suzanne A. Johnson.
The team has been given the power to investigate, prosecute, and retrieve assets, even preventing the people being investigated from traveling. In order to find suspects and return stolen money and assets, it will also work with Interpol and other diplomatic channels.
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has been instructed by the president to provide immediate funding in order to guarantee the Task Force’s full operation.
