Politics

Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai cuts salary by 40%

Published

6 months ago

July 7, 2024

Amidst the growing call for a significant cut in the cost of governance across the continent, Joseph Boakai, the President of Liberia, has declared a voluntary 40% cut to his pay.

This was revealed in a statement that was posted on the Liberian government’s website on Saturday and stated that the action was in line with Boakai’s dedication to national financial security and fiscal integrity.

This occurred a few days after a few lawmakers protested against the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for failing to provide them with the funds for their tricycles, or “Keke,” by riding them to the parliament.

According to Boakai, the declaration demonstrates his resolve to set an example for improving public accountability and displaying citizen solidarity.

The statement partly read, “In fulfilment of his commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.. has announced a voluntary 40% reduction in his salary.

“According to the President, the announcement reflects his determination to lead by example in strengthening government accountability and demonstrating solidarity with the people of the nation.

“The Liberian leader said the move is aimed at setting a precedent for responsible governance and nation-building.”

Furthermore, Boakai “has pledged to empower the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to ensure that workers receive fair compensation for their contributions to the country and that public servants’ salaries are in line with the current state of the nation.”

Boakai formally introduced the Employee Status Regularization Programme earlier on Thursday to improve payroll and employment transparency and accountability within the government. The initiative is a critical step in building a civil service that is more effective, responsible, and transparent.

According to a statement from the president of Liberia, the recently established ESRP entails a thorough staff headcount as well as a physical verification operation to find and eliminate unfit individuals and ghost identities from the government’s payroll.

Along with raising the pay of lawful civil personnel, the program aims to give competent professionals more chances to provide effective and efficient services. Boakai is currently in Nigeria for the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS. Boakai succeeded previous President George Weah.

In a similar move, Kenyan President William Ruto on Friday suggested borrowing more money in approximately equal amounts and cutting spending to close a nearly $2.7 billion budget deficit left by his decision to back out of planned tax increases in the face of widespread opposition.

In reaction to widespread, youth-led protests that have precipitated the largest crisis of Ruto’s two-year government, the financial law including the tax increases was withdrawn by the president.

Related Topics:Cost of Governance Featured Liberia

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.