…Ombudsman Gives Ultimatum To Party Official Holding Gov’t Posts
By Jamesetta D. WiWilliams
Liberia-The Office of the Ombudsman has informed the public that Section 5.1(a) and (b) of the Code of Conduct provides that All officials appointed by the President of Liberia shall not engage in political activities canvass or contest for elected offices and use government facilities, equipment or resources in support of partisan or political parties.
Cllr. Findley Karngar, Chairperson of the Office of the Ombudsman said upon President Joseph Boakai’s commissioning of the three Ombudspersons in August 2024, the institution commenced monitoring, evaluating, enforcing, and investigating non-adherence to the Code of Conduct. He added that 26 appointed officials of the Government of Liberia were written and given the option to resign their political party positions or their government positions in obedience to Section 5.1 (a) of the Code of Conduct.
Speaking at MICAT regular press briefing recently, Cllr. Karngar said in response to the directive issued by the Office of the Ombudsman, four individuals, including Mr. Dixon Tamba (Deputy Commissioner General, Liberia Immigration Service), Kundukai Jalibah, Deputy Commissioner General, Liberia Immigration Service), Leon Talery, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and Richard Huff, Deputy Director, Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC)) resigned their respective political party positions and submitted evidence to the Office.
Cllr. Karngar noted that despite the public demonstration of the individuals mentioned, all other government officials that were written have remained defiant and refused to adhere to the directive as provided for under Section 5.1(a) of the Code of Conduct.
Cllr. Karngar indicated that by the announcement, the Ombudsman directs all those individuals it interacted with and others who are similarly situated (public servants appointed by the President and those appointed by the previous Liberian presidents since the coming into force of the Code of Conduct to comply with Section 5.1(a) of the Code of Conduct to resign their political party positions or resign from the Government of Liberia positions within five business days of this pronouncement.
Cllr. Karngar emphasized that all presidential appointees concerned are directed to provide evidence of compliance to the Ombudsman via email at OmbudsmanLiberia@gmail.com or by delivering evidence to the Ombudsman, Governance Commission 16th Street, Monrovia, of their individual decisions.
“Let it be known that Section 5.9 of the Code of Conduct provides that, “Any public official, after due process, who is found guilty of violating any provision of section 5 shall be immediately removed from the position,” he noted.
