Liberian President George Manneh Weah has mandated all appointed officials of the government aspiring to contest elective positions in the impending October 10, 2023, Presidential and Legislative Elections to resign on or before April 7, 2023.
The President’s order contained in Executive Order #117 issued Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
However, his mandate is consistent with amended Sections 5.2 and 10.2 of the 2014 Code of Conduct enacted, approved and printed in handbills on December 29, 2022.
President Weah acknowledged that the objectives of the Code of Conduct is to dissociate the fiduciary duty of trust, integrity and loyalty owed by public officials to the people from their personal desires to contest elections at the expense of public resources.
The Liberian Chief Executive, however, acknowledged that with about seven months to the conduct of elections on October 10, 2023, the amended Act can’t prevent public officials from contesting in said elections.
Meanwhile some of critics of the president say his action is belated as the code of conduct asks all appointed officials to resign at one year prior to the conduct of elections.
Liberia Public Radio national correspondent in Monrovia said the law which was first enacted almost a decade ago has not been fully adhere to by appointed government officials in Liberia.
A constitutional expert Milton Tarr, said the Code of Conduct has failed as there has been no Ombudsman setup to monitor the implementation of the law since its passage.
Section 1.3.17 of the law mandates this group to ensure that the code of conduct is fully implemented and investigate public officials and employees’ behavior.
