In a bold move to tackle corruption, Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai has suspended over 450 top government officials for failing to declare their assets on time.
The officials, including top ministers overseeing education, health, and the national budget, will remain suspended for a month or until they comply with asset declaration requirements.
The decision comes amid growing public demand for transparency and accountability in the West African nation, which has struggled with corruption for years.
Boakai, who was elected in November 2023 on an anti-corruption platform, has vowed to restore public trust in government institutions.
The suspensions follow widespread anti-government protests in December, during which demonstrators decried corruption and poor governance. The unrest saw Liberia’s parliament building in Monrovia catch fire, heightening tensions in the capital.
Transparency International ranked Liberia 135th out of 180 countries in its Corruption Perceptions Index last year, highlighting the scale of the problem.
Boakai’s administration hopes that enforcing asset declaration laws will serve as a deterrent against illicit enrichment among public officials.
