LIBERIA – Etmonia M. Martin, nominee to head Liberia’s Office of the Ombudsman, has requested US$4 million for fiscal year 2027, proposing increased investment in staffing, county outreach and systems to strengthen oversight of compliance with the National Code of Conduct.
By: Sampson W. Weah – sampsonwweah7@gmail.com
Appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, Martin said the proposed allocation would help the institution address capacity gaps and improve access to its services nationwide. The Office received US$758,169 in fiscal year 2026.
She pledged to present a phased recruitment plan, defined operational priorities and measurable targets, supported by quarterly reports on expenditure and performance.
Martin also acknowledged concerns about the Office’s limited public visibility, saying greater transparency was necessary to demonstrate its impact and build public confidence.
The institution’s third-quarter report recorded nine new complaints, 10 investigations, six hearings and one mediation. Three older cases were completed during the period. All nine new complaints were acknowledged within two working days, while eight received preliminary assessments within five working days.
Martin said public reporting must clearly distinguish between complaints received, investigations conducted and cases resolved to avoid overstating the Office’s achievements.
Public education activities reached all 15 counties during the quarter, recording 989 attendances and 246 Code of Conduct signatories. However, she noted that much of the outreach took place at county headquarters, underscoring the need to reach more communities.
To address the gap, Martin proposed mobile clinics, community radio programmes and designated county contacts. She also pledged practical training for public officials and reaffirmed that services provided by the Office would remain free.
Martin called on lawmakers to support proposed amendments to Section 10.2 of the amended 2022 National Code of Conduct, aimed at strengthening asset declaration requirements and authorizing the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to publish asset declarations.
She said the draft legislation was developed with contributions from the Ombudsman’s Office, the LACC and International Monetary Fund counterparts. The proposal would allow public access to declarations while protecting sensitive personal and security information.
Martin said the reform could strengthen public scrutiny of officials’ declared assets, while emphasizing that implementation must respect privacy and due process.
The nominee cited a 94.76 percent rating awarded to the Office in the Cabinet Secretariat’s midterm performance assessment for the first half of 2026, placing it in the “Outstanding” category. She welcomed the result but stressed that performance ratings must be accompanied by verifiable outcomes and honest reporting on delays.
She also proposed introducing a secure digital case register to improve complaint tracking and protect sensitive records, alongside phased recruitment of investigators, hearing officers, legal support personnel and monitoring specialists.
Martin concluded by emphasizing that the Ombudsman’s credibility would depend on impartial decisions and consistent enforcement of the law, regardless of the status or political affiliation of anyone involved in a complaint.
“Evidence and the law must guide us in every case,” she told senators, seeking confirmation and legislative support for an institution capable of delivering stronger public accountability across Liberia.
