The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has strongly criticized the Boakai-Koung administration, accusing it of failing to uphold its commitments to good governance, transparency, and accountability. At a press conference held at its headquarters in Sinkor on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, CENTAL’s Executive Director, Anderson D. Miamen, expressed deep concern over what he termed as the government’s “business as usual” approach.
He emphasized that despite President Joseph Boakai’s pledge to lead with integrity and uphold the rule of law; his administration has fallen short of these promises. Miamen highlighted several troubling developments, including the controversial removal of tenured officials and the alleged misuse of public funds. He specifically questioned the government’s recent payment of US$374,239.24 to former Central Bank Governor Aloysius Tarlue following his dismissal. CENTAL raised concerns over whether this payment was based on legitimate audit findings or merely a strategy to replace officials with political allies. The organization warned that similar undisclosed financial settlements could amount to millions of dollars in unnecessary government expenses, especially during a time of economic hardship. CENTAL also condemned what it described as excessive salaries and benefits at the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), where some officials reportedly earn over US$15,000 per month. While President Boakai ordered an investigation through the Bureau of State-Owned Enterprises, the organization noted that more than six months have passed with no public disclosure of the findings. Another major issue raised was the government’s failure to enforce asset declaration laws. According to CENTAL, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) reported in August 2024 that only 26.5% of public officials had declared their assets. This prompted President Boakai to issue a 10-day ultimatum for compliance. However, despite the deadline passing over two months ago, CENTAL noted that no public action has been taken against non-compliant officials, including some within the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs. CENTAL has called on the Boakai-Koung administration to, Publicly release the General Auditing Commission’s (GAC) report on the Central Bank. Justify the financial settlement with Tarlue and disclose similar agreements Take concrete action against corruption rather than diverting public resources to questionable payouts, Ensure government accountability and transparency to restore public trust. CENTAL further urged President Boakai to demonstrate stronger political will in tackling corruption. The organization emphasized that taxpayer funds should be directed toward essential services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure rather than secret financial settlements. In conclusion, CENTAL called on the media and civil society to continue exposing corruption and holding the government accountable. It stressed that collective efforts are essential to promoting good governance and protecting Liberia’s democratic integrity.
t2tdsy
7df0a0