Monrovia – President-elect Joseph Nyumah Boakai has warned his would be officials of his government that he will take drastic action against anyone caught in corruption or act inimical to his administration’s agenda.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
Sounding the caveat in an interview with the Voice of America, President-elect Boakai said all of his officials will be compelled to declare their assets, beginning with himself.
“We will start by making sure those people that we will bring to cabinet are people of integrity. And secondly, we are going to make sure that even beginning with myself, we will declare our assets, and we are going to make this well known that the purpose of coming to government to serve, and if you are not ready to serve the public, you can go elsewhere,” he said.
Continuing, he said: “But we are going to make sure that we start on a clear note that the people and our country stood in line and protected their votes, not to bring a team again that will do the same thing that the other people did or worst. So, it’s a clear message: declare your assets, make sure that we are prepared to audit the outgoing government. And to make sure that we will start on a footing where people will know that they have come to serve the public and, if you can’t understand that, the axe will fall where it may.”
Amb. Boakai narrowly defeated President George Manneh during Liberia’s 2023 Presidential runoff election. He campaigned on an agenda to fight corruption and promote good governance. Ahead of his inauguration in January 2024, the President-elect recently travelled to the United States where he has been engaging Officials in Washington, as well as meeting the Liberian community in the diaspora.
Speaking with the VOA’s Peter Clottey, the former Vice President reaffirmed his commitment to commission a comprehensive audit of the Weah-government. He said to ensure the process is credible and meets international standards, the Liberian government will hire a reputable foreign auditing firm to conduct the audit. He dispelled the notion that commissioning an audit will be tantamount to a witch hunt.
“When we talk about auditing, it is not going to be a Liberian auditing. We are going to make sure that our international partners work with us, a competent and renowned auditing firm, that will be qualified at an international level. We are aware of people saying that an audit will be a witch hunt. I don’t think it’s witch hunting when you have to account for your stewardship. But it has to be done in a way that is well established.”
Amb. Boakai boasts a wealth of experience in the public sector, serving as vice president for 12years under the administration of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. He is on record of admitting that under the Unity Party-led administration, they squandered several opportunities.
Asked what he will do differently when he takes over the reign of power, he emphasized that he will use his wealth of experience to bring about the much-needed change Liberians yearn for.
He said by assembling peacefully not only to vote but to protect their votes, Liberians were sending a message that they wanted positive change, and it is incumbent on him and his officials to live up to that commitment.
“I have run a public corporation, I was credible, and I can tell you that I have come to work not with friendship. I have friends, but there is a clear line of demarcation with family, friends and managing. With the experience of a country that celebrates 176 years, and with our people living below the poverty line, I don’t think we are coming to government again to start talking about family, friends. I think we are coming to make sure that we give the Liberian hope.”
He added that through his ARREST (Agriculture, Road, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation and Tourism) platform his government will initiate programs that will empower the young people, who make up over 60 percent of the population. To make this happen, he stated that his government will create the enabling environment to attract investors and create a vibrant private sector that will create jobs and boost trade.
