–๐จ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐. ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐. ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
President Joseph N. Boakai has officially commissioned the Ombudsman, Cllr. Finley Y. Karnga, and described the office as an essential institution dedicated to ensuring transparency, justice and accountability in government, with the responsibility to investigate and address complaints against government agencies or other institutions regarding the violation of the Code of Conduct.
The Ombudsman is an independent official appointed to investigate and address complaints against government agencies or other institutions regarding the violation of the Code of Conduct, and the position originates from the prescription in Article 90 (C) of the Constitution, which mandates the National Legislature to craft a Code of Conduct for all public officials and employees.
The Ombudsman, now Cllr. Karnga, is expected to ensure public officials are held to high ethical standards for their actions, promote fairness in the resolution of disputes and help to promote good governance.
Notwithstanding, it appears like the Ombudsman is already faced with his first test, with several officials of the Unity Party (UP) and its alliances serving in appointed positions without resigning their political positions. Prominent among them are the Secretary General of UP, Amos Tweh, Managing Director, Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC); the Chairman of UP, Rev. Luther Tarpeh, Board Chairman, National Port Authority (NPA); the Assistant Secretary General of UP, Cornelia Kruah-Togba, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs; the Deputy Secretary General for Press and Propaganda of the Liberty Party (LP), Daniel Sando, Deputy Minister for Technical Services at the Ministry of Information; Chairman of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), Cllr. Cooper Kruah, Minister of Labor; Chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), Prof. Alaric Tokpa, Chairman of the Governance Commission (GC), etc.
Section 5.1 of the Code of Conduct prohibits officials appointed by the President from engaging in political activities, canvass or contest for elected offices; using government facilities, equipment or resources in support of partisan or political activities; and serving on campaign team of any political party or an independent candidate.
To resolve this matter, Cllr. Finley Karnga, as the Ombudsman, will have to request that the individuals holding appointed and party positions at the same time relinquish one of their portfoliosโeither choose to serve the government or their political party.
Also, Section 9.4 (Gifts and Offers intended to Induce or Influence) states that every public official of government shall report to his or her head of institution any circumstances where a benefit or gift was offered or made regardless of whether the benefit or gift was accepted, especially where the public servant feels that such circumstances constituted attempts to influence his or her official action/decision.
It is observed that the breach of this article is pertinent in the Liberian government, but because the office of the Ombudsman has not been active all those involved are roaming freely and still holding on to their positions.
Now that President Boakai has activated the position and given it all the teeth needed to bite, it is expected that Cllr. Karnga may look into allegations of gifts and offers, from private individuals and companies.
Political pundits are expressing appreciation to President Boakai for his significant step in strengthening the tenets of democracy and fostering a transparent and accountable society, and called on Cllr. Karnga not to betray the trust of the President.
They predicted that several of those with dual capacities who prefer to stay in government, which could bring them close to neutrality in party activities and properly performing the functions they were appointed to do. They urged the Ombudsman not to relent in taking maximum punitive action against anyone who refuses to conduct themselves in line with law.