Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf summarily sacked the whole staff of the country’s finance ministry during a short surprise visit as she embarked on an anti-corruption campaign.
”All employees of this ministry are hereby dismissed, and will have to apply to come back if they wish,” ”Iron Lady” Johnson-Sirleaf told the employees at a meeting late on Wednesday attended by journalists.
”The ones that will be accepted will be those who have the competence of being employees of this sensitive ministry,” said the West African country’s newly elected president.
Responding to one employee who complained that they could not be fired on the spot because they were civil servants, Johnson-Sirleaf said they were all political appointees.
Johnson-Sirleaf, who promised Liberians at her inauguration ceremony last month to ”confront and fight” corruption, told reporters that the tough measures she had taken at the finance ministry were the first step towards fulfilling her pledges.
”This ministry has embarrassed our country a lot with the international community because of the corrupt practices that have been taking place here,” she said.
The veteran economist-turned-president said the key ministry has to be run by competent people with financial management training.
On Tuesday, Johnson-Sirleaf ordered officials of the transitional government whose term ended when she took power to stay in the country during an audit of their offices.
The audits were consistent with government policy of ensuring accountability and transparency, Johnson-Sirleaf’s office said, amid reports of outgoing government officials looting cars and grabbing office equipment and furniture. — Sapa-AFP