Liberia: NOCAL Blame Game - Mixed Acceptance of Responsibility

As accusations continue to fly over the financial crisis at the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), a group of lawmakers has joined Kofi Woods, the attorney and former Public Works Minister, in condemning mismanagement at the top of Liberia's oil sector. Like Mr. Woods, the lawmakers put the blame for NOCAL's recent collapse at the feet of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who they say, should have kept tighter oversight of the important body.

But lawmakers have mixed views about their own responsibility for NOCAL's problems. One of the key roles of legislators is to protect the interests of the people in their districts. Some reject accusations that they should have, or could have, taken more active oversight of NOCAL's operations themselves and asked the tough questions that might have brought NOCAL's mismanagement to light. At least one lawmaker said they should have been watching more closely.

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