MONROVIA – Liberia’s democratic principles are under serious strain as the ruling Unity Party (UP) appears willing to sideline legal and ethical standards in pursuit of partisan gain. Once a party that vocally championed transparency and the separation of government functions from party politics while in opposition, the UP now risks eroding public trust through actions that many civic leaders and political observers view as blatant violations of the National Code of Conduct.
The party’s December 6, 2025, Homecoming and Fundraising Program illustrates the problem starkly. Key government officials have been appointed to critical party committees, including the National Steering Committee, the Fundraising Committee, and the Media and Publicity Committee. Many of these appointees come from revenue-generating government entities such as NASSCORP, the National Port Authority, and the Maritime Administration, raising serious questions about conflicts of interest. In addition, top lawmakers who chair Ways, Means, and Finance committees in both Houses of the Legislature have also been incorporated into party operations, amplifying concerns about the politicization of state institutions.
Former Montserrado County District #8 Representative and Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) stalwart Acarous Moses Gray criticized these appointments as “a troubling violation of the Code of Conduct.” He observed that “many of those appointed are from government revenue-generating entities, and the inclusion of legislative chairpersons in these committees intensifies the ethical breach.” Indeed, the Liberian Code of Conduct is under attack, and the Ombudsman has become a toothless bulldog.” Gray’s warning underscores that these appointments are not merely ceremonial; they carry the real risk of diverting public officials from their statutory duties, compromising the efficient delivery of essential government services.
This pattern mirrors earlier concerns raised in October 2020 by Bishop Kortu Brown, former President of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC). At that time, he criticized the then-ruling CDC for assigning top government officials to party campaign committees, a practice that violated Section 5.1 of the National Code of Conduct. Bishop Brown emphasized that such appointments compromise governance and slow the execution of statutory functions. He called on President George Manneh Weah to remove government officials from partisan roles so they could focus on critical public duties, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, the UP, which once condemned these very practices, appears to have adopted the same strategy, underscoring a troubling normalization of Code of Conduct violations. The Law and the Constitution, particularly Article 90(c) and Section 5.1 of the Code of Conduct Act of 2014, clearly prohibit appointed officials from participating in political activities that conflict with their official duties. By drawing ministers, directors, and lawmakers into partisan operations, the UP not only breaks the law but also signals that political expediency outweighs ethical governance.
The consequences extend beyond legal technicalities. Liberia faces pressing socio-economic challenges: widespread poverty, limited infrastructure, and overstretched social services. When government officials are reassigned to party committees, the delivery of essential services is jeopardized, public resources risk mismanagement, and public confidence in democratic institutions is further eroded. The Ombudsman, empowered to enforce the Code of Conduct, must act decisively to prevent these violations from becoming entrenched practices.
The hypocrisy is striking. The Unity Party, now in power, is replicating the very behaviors it once criticized, demonstrating that advocacy for the rule of law was conditional and politically convenient. This pattern reflects a broader problem in Liberia’s governance: the ease with which parties rationalize sidelining statutes and ethical norms when it serves political interests.
Liberians deserve leadership that separates party ambitions from public duty. Statutory responsibilities, particularly in government revenue-generating entities and oversight institutions, should never be subordinated to political campaigns or fundraising efforts. If the UP fails to correct this course, the nation risks entrenching a culture of impunity where public office is leveraged as a tool for partisan enrichment.
Bishop Brown’s 2020 warning remains urgent today, public officials engaged in national governance must focus on statutory duties rather than partisan operations. As Acarous Moses Gray observes, the Ombudsman cannot remain ineffective while systemic violations continue. Upholding the Code of Conduct is not optional; it is essential for maintaining public trust, ensuring accountability, and preserving the integrity of Liberia’s democratic institutions.
In this era of political consolidation, the ruling Unity Party has an opportunity to set a positive precedent by withdrawing appointed officials from party committees, prioritizing governance over political expediency, and demonstrating a genuine commitment to the rule of law. Until then, Liberians will be forced to watch as the line between party and state erodes, and the principles designed to safeguard democracy are systematically undermined.
