Let’s Respect Our Laws

Liberia is one of the countries in the world with beautiful laws, but we are not respecting the laws of our land as civilized people.

A nation and its citizens are regarded as decent and civilized people because of the respect for rule of law and the adherence to the laws on the book, but it seems our case as the oldest Republic on the African continent is different.

We have made laws where state resources have been spent, efforts applied. We abandoned our basic schedules for the validation of these laws, yet we violate them as if nothing is on the book called laws to guide us as citizens.

Of recent, we have seen the flagrant violation of the National Code of Conduct for all public officials and employees of the government of the Republic of Liberia without regard.

The essence of governance is the integrity of the public service, as delivered and rendered by public officials and employees of government; and since their activities account for a majority of the work of government and have extensive influence over the lives of the people;

It has always been expected that these persons exhibit high moral character and integrity by being law abiding and committed to show proper care for public assets, behave ethically and discharge their duties and responsibilities impartially, efficiently and effectively with diligence and dignity

It is based on this that the National Code of Conduct was developed pursuant to both constitutional requirement and the tenets of “Good Governance” for the creation of a diligent and disciplined corps of public officials and employees of government

However, we have seen the blatant violation of the law especially Part V 5.1 which speaks of political participation

Recently the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) without regard to this law appointed public officials to the campaign teams across the country

This aspect of the law says all officials appointed by the President of the Republic of Liberia shall not: “engage in political activities, canvass or contest for elected offices; use government facilities, equipment or resources in support of partisan or political activities; serve on a campaign team of any political party, or the campaign of any independent candidate.”

This government took over the mantle of authority after winning fourteen of the fifteen counties to protect and defend the laws of the country and violating the very law is a complete contradiction

Now, if we must be serious as a responsible nation, we must respect our laws and ensure adherence to those laws