By Festus Poquie
Liberia’s ruling Unity Party announced on Sunday that it has suspended scores of National Executive Committee members including the country’s Finance Minister for failing to perform their party duties and is seeking roughly $28,000 in fines tied to those sanctions.
In a Statement issued after a special NEC sitting on September 13, the party said the disciplinary measures respond to “persistent failure” by several NEC members to attend official meetings and participate in party activities despite repeated reminders. Such absenteeism constitutes a breach of the trust placed in executives and a violation of party obligations, it said.
Nearly all listed officials facing expulsion from the party’s top decision-making body are heads of government ministries and agencies.
Under articles 16 and 19 of the UP constitution, the NEC imposed one-month suspensions on the affected members and assessed a fine of US$1,000 for each suspended executive, payable to the party during the suspension period.
Members must present proof of payment at the next NEC meeting; failure to comply, the party warned, will result in expulsion from the committee.
Taken together, the fines sought amount to about US$28,000. 
The statement lists 28 individuals as sanctioned, including well-known party figures such Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Ngafuan, Solicitor General Augustine Fayiah and Commerce and Industry Minister Magdalene Dagoseh, the Health Minister, Agriculture and the head of the agency responsible for aviation. Also named is the commissioner of the Independent Information Commission.
In early August, the Office of the Ombudsman recommended to President Joseph Boakai the dismissal of nearly two dozen public officials for allegedly violating the National Code of Conduct law. No known action has been taken. 
The law, probably the country’s chief governance instrument, aims to separate party politics from national service, ensure ethical behavior and prevent conflicts of interest among those serving in the public sector.
