Breaking News: Cheap Talk, Lies & Tape Recorders: Corruption in Liberia Must End

Cheap Talk, Lies & Tape Recorders: Corruption in Liberia Must End

By: Rufus S. Berry II

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For the first time in our nation’s history, a senior government official has exposed another senior government official for soliciting a bribe, thus resulting in the immediate dismissal of the guilty official. The extortion was brought to light by audio recordings of a conversation between Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) Managing Director
Harry A. Greaves and Aloysius Jappah, Deputy Minister of State for Economy, Finance and Legal Affairs, who was a member of the special committee investigating the Zakhem contract. During the conversation recorded by Harry A. Greaves, Jappah is heard asking Mr. Greaves to pay US $300.000.00 as compensation related to negotiations with the
government.

Other government officials should follow the example of Harry a. Greaves Jr. in undermining corrupt officials. The Liberian people demand honesty and integrity in the behavior of our political leaders. It is only with this expectation that we grant them power over us. We must make a conscious effort to extend praises to our fellow Liberians whenever it is warranted; congratulations Harry A. Greaves Jr., for a job well done.

This is the first step, in a series of crucial steps that must be taken to root the endemic corruption that pervades in the Liberian society. All Liberians must stop the habit of tolerating, accepting, embracing, and defending corrupt leaders within our society.

This is the time for action. For every $100,000 embezzled, the result is a clinic that will not be constructed in one of the counties. For every $300,000.00 stolen, once less major roadway is not repaired, nor constructed. The lack of roads hurts the Liberian people by preventing easy access by businesses seeking to bring product to the marketplace.
Corruption is undermining the development, and national security of our recovering nation. It’s time we demand action from President Johnson Sirleaf.

In the past I have not seen eye to eye with Mr. Greaves; however I applaud and commend his recent actions. All government officials must follow his example. It’s only through these kinds of actions that we can move Liberia forward.

On August 26, 2009, President Johnson Sirleaf described corruption as a dark cloud over her government, shielding the progress she has made since ascending to the presidency. The President went on to say that the Anti-Corruption Commission has prepared forms for declaration of assets by all government officials, and that she and all of her officials will be required to declare under oath, their assets, liabilities and income.

Madam President, you have been saying the same thing for the past 42 months. The Liberian people are tired of hearing the same old thing over and over. We want action not words! It’s no secret that corruption is deeply ingrained in our society, due to more than a century and a half of bad governance and misrule of the nation’s resources. Now is time
for change. As one of my colleagues stated, "The people of Liberia did not elect you to complain that the battle against corruption is slow. They expect your government to introduce the mechanism that will improve the situation quickly. The people want you to construct the appropriate institution that will indict, prosecute, convict and lock up corrupt officials. Madam President, that’s what leadership is all about. A true leader solves problems and does not complain that things are slow. That is what leadership is about."

Stop talking. Start doing something. Get with the program –– embrace the spirit of transparency, and implement measures for change.

Every cabinet minister, their deputies, heads of government agencies, their deputies, and every civil servant making US $50,000, or more must declare their net worth annually. This should also include their spouses. This declaration must be made under oath, at the risk of perjury, if one is dishonest. These requirements must also apply to the Executive Mansion and all its staff, and their spouses.

Any changes in net worth above $10-15K must be reported. If a family net worth increases by more than this annually, they are required to fill out additional forms to explain the increase. These are some of the measures that have to be carried out taking into account our past transgressions and predilection toward corruption.

Example: If an individual declares under oath that he has only $100,000 US in one (and only) bank account. However, if his sworn statement is established to be dishonest, and he actually has $300,000.00 in three local banks, the government would then have the right to
prosecute this person for perjury, and confiscate the undeclared $200,000.00 as part of the fight against corruption.

Like the Internal Revenue Service in the United States, the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) and National Security Agency (NSA) should be empowered to carry out clandestine operations, and ask every financial institution in the country to report annually, all accounts containing amounts over $50,000.00 US. The agency would then match
those names with the addresses and/or phone numbers listed with the banks, and begin the process of calling these individuals or companies as part of the validation process. This will be a great start, until the national equivalent of a social security number or national identification number can be established.

Many international public organizations require top tier employees to declare their net worth on an annual basis. For example, at the International Monterey Fund, all Senior Staff at B Level or above are required to declare their and their spouses net worth annually.

All government related travel expenses should be reconciled to their receipts

We must increase the budget of the National Security Agency, and give them the authority to carry out undercover operations to catch criminals and corrupt officials, both elected and appointed.

The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) should be part of the General Auditing Commission, (and should be the investigative arm of the legislative branch.

In President Johnson-Sirleaf's remarks during US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's visit to Liberia on August 13, 2009, you said, “We look forward to continuing to carry out our part of the bargain to move Liberia forward, open society, democracy, accountability, transparency, developing our country through proper use of our natural
resources.”

Our fight against corruption consists of two parts. The first involves punishing those who are guilty of misconduct. The second and perhaps the most difficult is establishing a system of motivation for the others to make sure they don't engage in corruption.

No modern president, including Nelson Mandela, has garnered as much goodwill as President Johnson-Sirleaf. The fact that nothing has translated into a tangible gain for the Liberian people is cause for alarm. In three years, not much has happened in the
fight against corruption.

It’s time that Liberia makes use of its historical ties with the United States. With the right policies, we could be the center of commerce within the West African region. Liberia
is at a tremendous advantage; we speak English, we have an open society, and we have the prestige of being the oldest republic on the continent.

We just need to improve the Judiciary, reform the banking laws, protect investors when they do business in Liberia, and pay civil servants real living wages. Our potential is tremendous, but we have to address the issue of corruption.

Due to the global financial crises and Liberia's current caldron of corrupt leaders, our country is regressing. Now is the time to seek people with genuine insight and experience to find the solution to our problems. We must toss away the idea that when election comes, we will buy the people bags of rice in order to be re-elected.

President Johnson Sirleaf must address these so that the people of Liberia will benefit in the long term.

About the Author:


Rufus S. Berry II is a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area (Northern California), and the author of many articles including: “Liberia's Long History of Corruption, Facilitated by Citizens that Turn a Blind Eye on the Government”, "Liberia's National Security Alert: President Johnson-Sirleaf's Government Needs Discipline to Stay the Course", and “Ban Smoking in Public Venues Now”.



He can be reached at: rufus_berry@yahoo.com or (510) 393-1825.

Jappah is a disgrace for our younger generation. Bravo Harry Greaves. This is the way go..........