MONROVIA, Liberia — President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., has expressed full confidence in the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) as a crucial mechanism for reclaiming stolen public assets. He underscored his administration’s commitment to tackling corruption and welcomed international forensic experts who have completed an initial assessment to aid Liberia in retrieving misappropriated wealth.
In a statement made as he bid farewell to the experts from FTI Consulting, President Boakai praised their efforts and urged AREPT, led by Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, to ensure that all asset recovery initiatives adhere strictly to legal frameworks. The president emphasized that international expertise would strengthen Liberia’s capacity to trace and recover assets lost to corruption. The international delegation, headed by FTI Consulting’s Senior Managing Director Andrew Durant, reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with AREPT in support of President Boakai’s anti-corruption agenda. They also pledged to return for the next phase of their work.
During their week-long stay, the experts met with several key Liberian institutions to strengthen collaboration on asset tracing and recovery. These engagements included discussions with the Governance Commission’s Acting Chair, Prof. Alaric K. Tokpah, and Vice Chairperson, Sianneh S. Juah, as well as Liberia’s Auditor General, Garswa Jackson, Sr.
The delegation also held meetings with Justice Minister Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Police Inspector General Gregory O. W. Coleman, Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, and officials from the Financial Intelligence Agency. According AREPT, all institutions reaffirmed their commitment to assisting Taskforce in recovering assets acquired through illicit means.
Liberia, which has long struggled with corruption and financial mismanagement, is seeking to establish a more structured and transparent asset recovery process. Officials within the administration argue that such efforts are crucial in restoring public trust in governance.
“This initiative is about ensuring accountability and making sure that resources meant for the Liberian people are returned to them,” said a senior official involved in the meetings. “We are committed to this process and will provide full support to AREPT.”
The FTI Consulting experts’ visit represents a significant step toward institutionalizing asset recovery mechanisms in the country. As they prepare for the next phase of their work, expectations are high that Liberia’s renewed anti-corruption drive will yield tangible results.
President Boakai has made fighting corruption a central pillar of his administration, vowing to take decisive action against those who misappropriate public funds. With the involvement of international forensic experts, Liberia aims to send a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated under the new leadership.
The FTI Consulting team is set to depart Liberia in the coming days, with plans to return for further assessments and support in the ongoing asset recovery efforts.
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.
