The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia on Thursday June 20, 2024 officially released its 100 days plus delivery report on the current administration headed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
The report with facts and evidence based data focused among other things Governance, Accountability and transparency related issues.
Presenting some of the the findings of the report to the public, the Program Manager of CENTAL, Gerald Yeakula said the report is the second of its kind, having launched the maiden edition during the Administration of former President George Weah.
The report among other things calls on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to lead by example.
As captured in the report, President Boakai declared his assets sixteen days after taken office contrary to the law, Mr. Yeakula stated.
The Liberian leader, the report noted also delay in appointing officials of his government something that hinders effectively and efficiently in government.
The report also highlighted controversies in appointments with swapping , revoking of names and violation of tenure positions following public out cry were among other issues.
Moreover, the report also questioned the “No Business As Usual” statement made by President Boakai in his inaugural address when in fact, he has some people in his government with family links , directly and indirectly, something that speaks highly of nepotism and a normal business as usual thing in government as well as hailing the then inaugural committe head , Madam Miatta Fahnbulleh that he has explicit confidence in her, when there was public outcry on the claimed poor planning of the program as well as financial issues respectively.
The CENTAL’s Program Manager providing some data stressed that they initially captured 1,306 appointments but following a cleaning up process due to revoking of some appointments and other changes, they finally arrived at 1, 267.
Of that number, he disclosed that thirty eight appointments were characterized by controversies, twelve were revoked by the President with some of them being on the same day, hours later, thirteen were basically changed and one resignation, the former Defense Minister , Prince Charles Johnson III, among others.
Speaking about gender , Gerald told the gathering that the report shows 81.4% male appointments over 18.5% females below the 30% women participation bench mark respectively.
However, he praised President Boakai for appointing the first female Defense Minister, Geraldine George including 30% females at the level of the Cabinet and at the same time, three persons from the disability and people with special needs community.
Additionally, the government’s one hundred days plus delivery report by CENTAL also uncovered that the power of government is Centralized especially in the North Central Region of Liberia constituting 57% of appointments of people hailing from Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties respectively.
According to the report, there is a decimal number of people appointed in government from the Western Region as well as the South East including , Montserrado, Margibi and Grand Bassa Counties.
This he said is contrary to President Boakai’s inaugural speech that his government will be a government of inclusion.
The report also called on international partners to help support Civil Society organizations to ensure that they enhanced their work and activities.
At the same time, the report wants Civil Society organizations to continue their advocacy in holding government accountable to their people.
Moreover, the report urged Public integrity institutions despite their challenges to take some action to uphold the culture of impunity within the society.
Yeakula stressed that the government’s objective under the hundred days plus deliverables under their focus areas of the report were not met.
Also speaking was the Board Chairman of CENTAL, Cllr. T. Negbalee Warner who called on the government of Liberia to see the report as a call to action and to do the needful.
“President Boakai that I know when he received this report, will act, Cllr. Warner assured the gathering on Thursday.
He said it is time that Civil society organizations work harder to ensure that the issue of accountability is key for the Country and its people .
Cllr. Warner indicated that it is easy to promise but difficult to deliver noting that it is not to focus on promises but the evidence of delivery.
As for the Executive Director of CENTAL Anderson Meima , he pointed out that accountability is truly the way to ensure a genuine democracy.
The report he said is a desk report that relied heavily on monitoring, law issues as well as the media and did not capture real time corruption issues due to time factor but it is comprehensive , accurate and can be used as a way forward for the Government to the right thing.
