MONROVIA, LIBERIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has extended the mandate of the Assets Recovery Task Force for an additional year through Executive Order No. 145, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to reclaiming government assets allegedly misappropriated by current and former officials.
The Executive Order, signed on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, amends and renews Executive Order No. 126, which originally established the Assets Recovery Task Force in March 2024. According to the order, the task force will continue to investigate, trace, and recover both fixed and liquid assets unlawfully converted to private use by officials placed in positions of trust.
President Boakai emphasized the necessity of extending the task force’s mandate due to “extenuating circumstances” that have delayed the full recovery of government assets. “This step is essential to restore lost assets, ensure economic viability, and hold those responsible accountable under the law,” the order states.
The Asset Recovery Task Force, operating under the Office of the Minister of State for Special Services, will continue to collaborate with key government institutions, including the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the Office of the Ombudsman, the General Services Agency (GSA), the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA).
The task force will be chaired by Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, former head of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission. Dr. Ranney B. Jackson will serve as Vice Chairman, with John Mulbah Gbilee, Crosby Johnson, and Atty. Suzanne A. Johnson as members.
Their mandate includes identifying, tracing, investigating, recovering, and prosecuting cases where government assets were converted to private use. The task force is also authorized to pursue assets beyond Liberia’s borders and return them to the government.
This latest move aligns with Boakai’s broader anti-corruption agenda, which has faced both domestic and international scrutiny. Critics argue that without tangible results, the administration’s asset recovery efforts risk being seen as political theater.
The extension grants the task force additional time to deliver on its promise to recover public assets and hold individuals accountable, as the administration seeks to demonstrate progress in its fight against corruption.
