Liberia: NEC Commissioner Urges Political Parties to Insist on Ombudsman Appointment

The Commissioner of Political Affairs at the National Elections Commission (NEC), Boakai Dukuly, has called upon political parties to exert pressure on the Liberian government to appoint an ombudsman for the Code of Conduct in order to promote good governance.

Commissioner Dukuly made these remarks during a conference on campaign financing organized by Integrity Watch Liberia.

He emphasized the importance of political parties organizing and petitioning the legislature and the President to ensure the appointment of the ombudsman, who would prevent government officials from becoming campaign managers for political parties, which is against the law.

“I’m talking about you organizing and getting people petitioning the legislature, petitioning the President to make sure he sets the ombudsman to ensure that the minister in any government does not become a campaign manager for some political parties; it’s against the law, but you must be able,” Dukuly emphasized.

The commissioner commended Integrity Watch Liberia for their efforts in promoting adherence to campaign financing regulations and stressed that political parties have a crucial role in enforcing legal compliance.

According to him, political parties should lead the way in reporting and addressing violations of campaign financing regulations to the National Elections Commission and, if necessary, pursue legal action.

“You can do this very easily. You observe it, you recognize it, you complain to the National Elections Commission officially, and if we don’t take action, you go to court. Whether it is a minister using his vehicle to campaign [in violation of] the Code of Conduct, he can be sued because this is the only way we can protect this country,” he noted.

Commissioner Dukuly also urged political parties not to solely rely on complaints to the NEC and stressed the importance of utilizing the court system to ensure compliance with the law. 

According to him, when political parties use the court system, it will also ensure that the NEC works in line with the law. 

The National Code of Conduct, enacted into law in 2014, guides the conduct of public officials and prohibits their participation in political campaigns while in office. It also prohibits the use of government resources for political activities.

Session 5.1 prevents and bars public officials appointed by the President from participating in political campaigns, canvassing, or contesting for elected offices.

Additionally, the provision also disallows officials from using government facilities, equipment, or resources in support of partisans or political activities.

It indicates that any Minister, Deputy Minister, Director-General, Managing Director, or Superintendent appointed by the President who desires to contest for public office shall resign from said post at least two years prior to the date of the election.

The law also empowers the President of Liberia to appoint an ombudsman to receive and investigate complaints of alleged violations of the Code of Conduct by public officials.