MONROVIA, Montserrado – George M. Weah, Liberia’s 25^th president, has promised that his Coalition for Democratic Change government will end corruption.

Weah made this statement Monday, January 22 during his inaugural speech at the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville.

The call echoes that of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who labeled corruption as ‘public enemy number one’ during her first inaugural speech.

Sirleaf again described corruption in the middle of her second term as ‘systemic and endemic’ and eventually at the close of her second term, as a ‘vampire’ that is sucking the nation’s resources and the national coffer.

In her last State of the Nation address, she admitted failing in her fight against corruption.

In his inaugural address, Weah told Liberians that the new Liberia he intends to build must be re-enforced by integrity.

He said Liberia needs men, women, boys, and girls whose integrity provides the foundation of their trust that is required for the Liberian society to benefit her people.

“We must not allow political loyalties prevent us from collaborating in the national interest. We must respect each other and act as neighbors, regardless of religious, social and economic differences,” he said.

Weah emphasized that he believes that the most effective way to directly impact and narrow the gap between the rich and poor is to ensure that public resources do not end up in the pocket of government officials.

He said the overwhelming victory he received from the Liberian people is a mandate to end corruption in public service, adding, “I promise to deliver on this mandate.”

Weah indicated that as officials of government, it is time to put the interest of the people above our own selfish interest adding “it is time to be earnest with our people”.

The Liberian chief executive said, though corruption is a habit among our people, we must end it must pay civil servant a living wage so that corruption is not an excuse for taking what is not theirs.

“Those who do not refrain from enriching themselves at the expense of the people – the law will take its course. I say today that you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” he maintained.

Weah’s speech signals that he is prioritizing a fight against corruption and his party’s manifesto has specific actions prescribed against corruption.

Those include pursuing “without fear or favor legal actions against companies involved in bid rigging, price fixing and corrupt practices as well as those who embrace such practices in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Republic.”

Weah’s party platform also promised to build upon the largely ignored Code of Conduct, in addition to an assets declaration platform.

However, the Daily Observer had reported that less than a week before the inauguration, Weah had yet to declare his assets. Augustine Toe, the acting chair of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, had called on the then-president-elect to take the lead.

However, a spokesperson for Weah, Janga Kowo, said the president would declare his assets “as soon as he takes office because that’s what the law provides.”

Besides declaring his assets, it is not clear whether Weah will allow the ongoing bribery case against the former House speaker Alex Tyler to continue. Tyler’s Liberia People Democratic Party was one of the parties coming together to form the winning coalition.

Featured photo by Lloyd Massah