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Integrity Scorecard

2007 Assessment

Liberia: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Liberia: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: National Ombudsman
Indicators		Score
52	In law, is there a national ombudsman, public protector or equivalent agency (or collection of agencies) covering the entire public sector?	0
53	Is the national ombudsman effective?	0
54	Can citizens access the reports of the ombudsman?	0

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

In law, is there a national ombudsman, public protector or equivalent agency (or collection of agencies) covering the entire public sector?

52: In law, is there a national ombudsman, public protector or equivalent agency (or collection of agencies) covering the entire public sector?

Score:

YES

Comments: The draft constitution from the Sawyer Committee had provision for an Ombudsman Office, but the Kisselly Review Committee removed it

References: Does not exist in law.

Is the national ombudsman effective?

53a: In law, the ombudsman is protected from political interference.

Score:

YES

Comments: Ombudsman is not covered under the Liberian law, and there is no equivalent of this office.

References: Does not exist in law.

53b: In practice, the ombudsman is protected from political interference.

Score:

100

Comments: There is no ombudsman office, and so this is not applicable.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

53c: In practice, the head of the ombudsman agency/entity is protected from removal without relevant justification.

Score:

100

Comments: Does not exist in law of practice.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

53d: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) has a professional, full-time staff.

Score:

100

Comments: Not in law or practice.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

53e: In practice, agency appointments support the independence of the ombudsman agency (or agencies).

Score:

100

Comments: Not in law or practice.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

53f: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) receives regular funding.

Score:

100

Comments: Not in law or practice.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

53g: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) makes publicly available reports.

Score:

100

Comments: Does not exist in law or in practice.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

53h: In practice, when necessary, the national ombudsman (or equivalent agency or agencies) initiates investigations.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The agency aggressively starts investigations -- or participates fully with cooperating agencies\' investigations -- into judicial misconduct. The agency is fair in its application of this power. <p>50 Score Criteria: The agency will start or cooperate in investigations, but often relies on external pressure to set priorities, or has limited effectiveness when investigating. The agency, though limited in effectiveness, is still fair in its application of power. <p>0 Score Criteria: The agency rarely investigates on its own or cooperates in other agencies\' investigations, or the agency is partisan in its application of this power.$

Comments: Does not exist in law or in practice.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

53i: In practice, when necessary, the national ombudsman (or equivalent agency or agencies) imposes penalties on offenders.

Score:

100

Comments: Does not exist in law or practice.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

53j: In practice, the government acts on the findings of the ombudsman agency (or agencies).

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: Ombudsman\'s reports are taken seriously, with negative findings drawing prompt corrective action. <p>50 Score Criteria: In most cases, ombudsman\'s reports are acted on, though some exceptions may occur for politicalally sensitive issues, or particularly resistant agencies. <p>0 Score Criteria: Ombudsman reports are often ignored, or given superficial attention. Ombudsman reports do not lead to policy changes.$

Comments: Does not exist in law or practice.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

53k: In practice, the ombudsman agency (or agencies) acts on citizen complaints within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: Does not exist in law or practice.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Can citizens access the reports of the ombudsman?

54a: In law, citizens can access reports of the ombudsman(s).

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Does not exist in law.

54b: In practice, citizens can access the reports of the ombudsman(s) within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: There is no mechanism in law or in practice for this. Citizens can hardly acquire information about the operations of existing agencies, let alone a one that does not exist.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

54c: In practice, citizens can access the reports of the ombudsman(s) at a reasonable cost.

Score:

100

Comments: This is not in law or in practice. Acquiring information or records from any government institution has unofficial costs attached to it.

References: Anthony Myers, budget analyst, Budget Bureau, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia

Dan Sayeh, executive director, LDI, Oct. 2, 2007, Monrovia, Liberia