By: Moses M. Tokpah
Liberia-The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), has vowed to take serious action against officials of government who will be found culpable of corruption.
Information Minister, Jerolinmek Matthew Piah at the Ministry’s regular press briefing recently, said Liberia is currently preoccupied with two reports alleging corruption in government. According to him, it has been alleged on one front that some acts of bribery is taking place at the Capitol Building and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) is investigating the matter.
He added that the LACC has also implicated the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) and the Ministry of Transport as being the conduit of financiers of the bribery scheme at the Capitol Building. Minister Piah narrated that thankfully, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation and the Ministry of Transports have also invited the LACC to investigate them as per their own plans to establish whether there is any fact to the report that monies from the two entities have been used to bribe lawmakers to remove the speaker.
Additionally, the Minister said the government is also concerned about reports coming from the Liberia Refugees, Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) which states that leaders of that government entity have deliberately orchestrated scheme to defraud the government and steal from the Liberian people particularly, distressed Liberians who were repatriated from Ghana.
According to him, there are also trending reports in the media alleging that the head of the entity presided over such a scheme pointing out that the head of the entity, Mr. Samuel Worzi has been doing a great job, but the government is concerned about the report.
Minister Piah revealed that President Boakai received these reports with grave concern and that the government is looking at the LACC, the GAC and others to investigate these matters. Piah vowed that the President will not hesitate to take very swift actions when findings from the LACC or any investigative body point to official acts of corruption on the part of any person in government.
He said the Government of Liberia categorically states and is aware that bribery is a crime under the Laws of Liberia, and when the facts are established that bribery has taken place, the law must and will take its course thereby assuring the public of the government’s resolve to enforce the laws at the executive branch of government.
The Minister averred that the President has zero tolerance on corruptions and that remains on unshaken, but he will not act based on allegations. He intoned that the government also understands that the Internal Audit Agency has done some works on these allegations and that the Liberia National Police has called into an investigation to establish any act of criminality.
Minister Piah said investigations are ongoing into these matters and the President will act when the findings have been presented to him, and he is looking into these issues with keen interest and concern. He on behalf of the government thanked whistleblowers whom he said are playing major roles in all of the ongoing, noting that the government believes that whistleblowing is a good practice.
