| Ellen Confirms Corruption Cancer-Threatens Ruthless Action |
| Published on February 28, 2007 | Email To Friend Print Version
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President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has publicly admitted that corruption is still deeply implanted in the Liberia government, despite her commitment and utterances against the act.
Taking oath of office on January 16, 2006, President Sirleaf assured Liberians and the world in general that her government would tackle corruption from all front. She declared that corruption as her government’s Number One Enemy, saying that she would confront it, attack it and deal with it.
Though the government has suspended several officials for alleged corruption from the Ministries of Finance, Health & Social Welfare, Public Works, and Commerce, the Liberian leader Monday night announced in a nationwide address that corruption was still functional in her government.
“There is absolutely no doubt that despite our commitment and utterances, we still have this cancer deeply imbedded in our institutions. We must now deal ruthlessly with this by dismissing and where applicable, prosecuting those who continue to engage in these practices,” President Sirleaf pronounced warningly.
The president reemphasized that both past and present government officials who have betrayed the public trust by engaging into the act of corrupting will be made to face justice.
President Sirleaf: “We also wish to note that while we are committed to do all that we can to foster peace and reconciliation, we can do no less than bring to justice those of past regimes who violated the public trust for whatever reason given, recognizing that in setting the standards of accountability, we do so not only for the past but for the present and the future as well.”
Presently, several top officials of the erstwhile National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) including its Chairman Gyude Bryant have already been charged for theft of properties in the tune of millions of United States dollars. They squandered and personalized public funds when they were in power, ECOWAS and government’s audit reports allege.
Meanwhile anonymous, but trusted government sources have hinted this paper that the President will shortly dismiss some government officials who have been booked for corrupt practices. Our source did not give names, but said the decision would affect some key revenue generating ministries and agencies, writes D. Kaihenneh Sengbeh .
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