Former President Weah’s Chief of Protocol Finda Bundo, Others Fail to Declare Exiting Assets

MONROVIA – The recent final publication of the exit assets declaration by Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission shows that the Chief of Protocol of former President George Manneh Weah, Madam Finda Bundo failed to comply with the exit assets declaration.

As mandated by law, all exiting officials of government must declare assets with the LACC before leaving office.

According to the last and final report of exit asset declaration published by LACC on Thursday, February 15, Finda Bundo is among several high profile former government officials who failed to declare their assets before exiting.

A release from the LACC said, “On December 12, 2023, the LACC in keeping with its mandate issued a press release mandating all appointed EXITING public officials (i.e. presidential appointees transitioning out of government because of the recent election), to declare their assets in accordance with Liberia’s asset declaration and verification regime, enshrined in the restated and amended 2022 LACC Act and Liberia’s National Code of Conduct as amended”.

“TODAY, the LACC formally ends its EXIT asset declaration exercise.  The completion of this exercise is a milestone in Liberia’s vision to create a corruption-free society.

To date, the LACC has published listings of compliant and non-compliant officials following a staggered approach i.e. initial listing of institutions and declarants was published on November 28, 2023; a second listing was published on January 19, 2024; today, Thursday, February 15, 2024, a FINAL listing is hereby published.  The published listings are available on the LACC’s official website”, the LACC release said.

It is not clear as to whether Madam Bundo and others who failed to live by the LACC mandate will face the required penalties.

Section 5.2 (o) of the amended and restated Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) Act of 2022 enshrines the responsibility of the LACC in executing Liberia’s Asset Declaration and Verification Regime.
The LACC Act defines the function of the LACC for asset declaration as:
“To institute and operate the assets declaration and verification regimes of the Government of Liberia, pursuant to the Code of Conduct Act of 2014”.
Section 5.2 (o)(vi) further provides for LACC to recommend to the Legislature for enactment into law sanction(s) for breach of the Asset Declaration Guidelines.
Against this backdrop, upon approval by the Legislature, the LACC will collaborate with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Liberia Revenue Authority, Public Procurement and Concession Commission, Liberia Business Registry, National Identity Registry, and other government service providers to impose the following sanctions on Non-Compliant Officials:

• Withholding of compensation, including salaries and other bonuses;
• Refusal or denial of government services, such as business registration, tax clearance, passport renewal, national ID card renewal, among other government provided services;
• No appointment to government positions.

Please see full report from the LACC below