Monrovia, Liberia – March 10, 2025 Liberian officials who obstruct the recovery of stolen public assets will face legal consequences, the country’s Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT) has warned, as it accuses some ministries and agencies of refusing to cooperate with investigations.
In a strongly worded statement, the Task Force made it clear that continued non-compliance would result in full exposure and legal action. AREPT, which operates under Executive Order No. 145, says certain current officials are deliberately withholding crucial records related to government assets, a move it calls a direct obstruction of justice.
“No official, past or present, will be permitted to derail this critical national effort,” the statement declared. “Any individual found attempting to interfere with the retrieval of stolen assets will face the full force of the law.”
The warning comes amid an ongoing push to recover millions of dollars’ worth of state resources allegedly misappropriated by both former and sitting government officials.
Liberia’s government has long struggled with corruption and financial mismanagement, and President Joseph N. Boakai has made asset recovery a top priority, recently extending the Task Force’s mandate through Executive Order No. 145. The order reinforces AREPT’s authority to investigate, trace, and reclaim public funds and properties both domestically and abroad.
Despite this, AREPT says some officials are actively resisting the process by refusing to provide documentation of public assets. While the Task Force did not publicly name the ministries and agencies involved, it emphasized that failure to comply will not go unpunished.
“The era of impunity is over,” the statement continued. “Those who believe they can suppress evidence or manipulate the system to evade accountability will soon face justice.”
The Task Force has urged all government institutions to immediately submit the required records and cooperate fully. Officials who continue to obstruct the process, it warns, risk prosecution as the government moves forward with its efforts to restore accountability and recover stolen wealth.
With AREPT vowing to execute its mandate “without fear or favor,” Liberia’s anti-corruption drive appears to be entering a decisive phase—one that could see high-profile officials held to account for years of financial malpractice.
Joseph Daniels reports for OK FM Liberia as Executive Mansion Correspondent. With a vested interest in making the voices of people from different walks of life heard, he has covered investigative stories relating to education, health, the environment, corruption, and violence against women and girls, among others. He graduated from the United Methodist University with a Bachelor of Art Degree in Mass Communications in 2020. Joseph is also a fellow at New Narratives, a non-profit organization helping media deliver independent, truthful information to its people so they can make informed decisions.
