Liberia: “Min. McGill Justifies Corrupt Dealings of Officials,” Says CENTAL
“The Government's own will be last because when I raise the Government’s own, somebody will go below,” he said.
— Says ‘Minister McGill’s defense of corruption is quite revealing’
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), says the statement made by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel F. McGill, at a political engagement in Bong County, justifies corrupt dealings of officials who steal public resources and invest the same in Liberia.
The minister's remarks, according to a statement released by CENTAL, could shape the decisions of many persons in society, especially those he supervises or manages in government.
The transparency group concern comes as the minister could be seen defending acts of corruption. The Minister justifies corrupt dealings of officials who steal public resources and invest the same in Liberia.
For him, stealing from the people does not matter, once the money is not transferred abroad, but invested in the local economy. According to him, projects undertaken beautify local communities and are in the interest of the people since they cannot be taken away, but remain grounded as tangible development.
But for CENTAL, they view these utterances as being extremely troubling, given McGill position of influence in the government and is extremely worrisome, in the wake of increasing allegations of corruption against government officials and limited actions from the Presidency to act against those concerned.
“Given his proximity to President George Weah, could he be giving the official position of the Liberian Presidency on how it views corruption, something that might be responsible for the very limited actions of the President against his officials accused and investigated for corruption? Indeed, McGill’s defense of corruption is quite revealing,” said Anderson Miamen, CENTAL Executive Director.
Miamen said they are deeply concerned and disappointed, especially so that these statements from the ,minister are coming at a time when the Power of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to freeze the assets of individuals being investigated and prosecuted for acts of Corruption has been removed in the amended and restated new LACC Law, in violation of Article 31 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which requires States Parties to institute laws to freeze illicitly/illegally obtained assets/wealth.
“It is coming at a time when many questions linger about the questionable spending and donation spree of the Minister, which have seen him making multiple donations in different parts of the country, since he was appointed to manage the office and activities of the Liberian Presidency,” he said.
Miamen added the comment came also at a time when it is reported that the majority of public officials are yet to re-declare their assets, incomes and liabilities three years after doing so in 2018, in line with the 2014 Code of Conduct for Public Officials.
“Anti-accountability comments have the ability to further undermine citizens and development partners’ confidence in the Liberian Government, which may have implications for their budgetary and other support to the country. We like to remind the Minister that there is and should be no place for Corruption in Liberia,” Miamen noted.
He said corruption is forbidden in Liberia and around the world and that there is no justification, whatsoever, for perpetrating it, stating “his comments grossly undermine government’s stance and fight against corruption and reveal why President Weah and his government have shown limited willpower to decisively and impartially address it.”