17th September, 2013
The son of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has resigned as chairman of the state oil company, she said in a statement on Tuesday, bringing to an end a controversial appointment that had attracted accusations of nepotism.
The president accepted Robert Sirleaf’s resignation from the positions as head of the National Oil Company of Liberia and as senior presidential adviser, the statement added.
It comes days after Liberian lawmakers delayed until January a debate on a new oil law aiming to increase transparency and competition in the sector.
The president said her son had been employed specifically to push through the reforms, and that with the legislation “now in place, or about to be in place”, his job was done.
“As I said, we made a promise that he was there for something specific and when that assignment was done, he would leave. It’s a promise we made. People perhaps did not believe us and criticised, but we have kept that promise,” she said.
“His work is over. He can now move on and become a private citizen.”
A spokesman for the oil company told AFP vice-president Israel Akinsanya had also resigned but did not give a reason.
Sirleaf suspended her son Charles, deputy governor of the central bank, and 45 other government officials last year for failing to declare their assets.
When first elected in 2006 Sirleaf declared war on corruption, but failed to make serious inroads despite dismissing several ministers.
Africa’s first elected female president, Sirleaf won a second term in 2011 elections and tackling graft is still one of the most pressing issues in the country 10 years after the end of a devastating civil war.