Liberia Government (Monrovia)
1 November 2008
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued an Executive Order establishing an ad hoc Independent Commission. The Order authorizes the Commission to investigation allegations of improprieties by certain government officials, in connection with negotiations of a new agreement between the Liberia Ship Registry & Corporate Program (LISCR) and the Government of Liberia relative for the management of the country's maritime program. Executive Order # 15 empowers the Commission to investigate alleged improprieties by certain government officials relative to alleged email exchanges in which officials are reported to have solicited kickbacks to secure the maritime contract now up for renegotiation.
The Executive Order, according to an Executive Mansion press release, empowers the Independent Ad hoc Commission to conduct an independent investigation into the alleged improprieties contained in the alleged email exchanges in circulation on American-based Liberian online magazine - FrontPage Africa.
A renowned Liberian Professor, Dr. Elwood Dunn has been named to chair the commission which shall consist of 7 Liberians with integrity, deemed impartial and independent. The Commission's chair is authorized and empowered to appoint independently the other six persons to serve on the Commission. The Body also has the authority to engage and employ the services of experts and legal counsel, local and international, including experts in information technology, deemed to be necessary and as may be required to facilitate its work.
The Ad hoc Independent Commission also has the authority to seek and acquire any information from any domestic and international sources relating to the investigation. Executive Order #15 also empowers the Commission to secure the issuance of writs of subpoena by courts of competent jurisdiction, for any records or documents required by it and to secure access to any emails or other sources for the purpose of its work. The Commission also has the authority to cite any person to give statements in respect of the investigations.
The Executive Order further directs that all persons holding positions in the Executive Branch of Government to cooperate fully with the Commission and provide all necessary information and documents that the Body may duly require in the course of its investigation.
The duration of the Commission's work, the Executive Order says shall not exceed three (3) months as of the date of commencement of its work; of the effective date of the Order, whichever first occurs. At the conclusion of its investigation, the Commission shall submit a report to the President and to the Office of an Independent Special Prosecutor, specifically designated to prosecute all matters of persons determined to be implicated in any improprieties in connection with the GOL-LISCR negotiations. The report, the Executive Order says, shall be made public along with action taken by the President.
The Executive Order Number-15 finally states that in order to ensure that the work of the Commission is pursued most expeditiously and professionally, an adequate budget, any required support staff, and any equipment needed and necessary shall be made available to the Commission for the period of its duration.
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