Front Page Africa (FPA), a US-based Liberian online media outlet in a September 18, 2008 publication captioned, Inducement or Generosity? Mittal Steel Donation Ruffling Feathers in Liberia, reported about an on going controversy at the Capitol Building, seat of Liberia’s National Legislature. 

According to the FPA report, the rift at the Legislature centers on the ethical implications associated with Mittal Steel’s recent donation of 100 Mitsubishi Pick-ups to the Liberian Government for use by members of that august body. Mittal Steel is the Word’s largest steel company. On August 17, 2005, the company signed a $ 900 million investment deal with the Liberian Government for the excavation of mineral deposits in Bong and Nimba Counties, Liberia, West Africa. The debate is tense, but the purpose of this article is not to put down or ridicule any of the contending parties. It is meant to express the author’s professional opinion on the matter based on empirical evidence as it relate to the giving or receiving of gifts, especially costly donations by public servants (lawyers, journalists, social workers, government officials, etc).

 The terminology, ethics derived from the Greek word, ethos, which means character or custom. It is a set of moral principles; rightness (good and bad). Examples: truth telling, honesty, etc. Code of ethics as defined by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), is a set of values, principles, and standards that guide the decision making and conduct of professionals when ethical issues (conflict of interest, boundary issues, etc) arise.  In summary, a code of ethics is the Dos and Don’ts (acceptable or unacceptable behaviors) of any profession. Even though codes of ethics are not cook books for responsible behaviors, indeed, they offer unmistakably clear guidance for exercising ethical behaviors. That’s while in most countries including the United States of America conformity to ethical principles is considered germane and imperative. Ethical violations in the US and most nations of the world are punishable through various means including the imposition of fines, loss of employment, and revocation of professional licenses.

According to the report, Mittal Steel motive for the donation of the pick-ups worth thousands of US dollars is to assist the Liberian Government in facilitating the movement of legislators to their constituencies, especially places in rural Liberia  that have become inaccessible as a result of deplorable road network.  In spite of Mittal Steel’s justification for the gift, some members of the National Legislature acting on ethical principles have gone on records for turning down the offer. Bong County Senator, Franklin Saikor is one of three senators, who have publicly raised apprehensions about the motive for the purported generosity.

 Sen. Saikor said he could not accept the gift because he thinks Liberia’s impoverished communities need the donation most than legislators. “As a lawmaker, the Senator contended, I was told by some of my colleagues from other countries that taking gift from companies and corporations must be done with care. Mittal Steel is going to operate in my county and once they are here, there is a possibility of labor unrest, and after taking gift from this company going to my people to settle problem I will be looked at differently, so I am afraid and will give the one intended for me to the people of Bong County”

 Senator Siakor’s stance was supported by Sen. Gbehzongar Findley of Grand Bassa County and Nimba County Senator Adolphus Dolo. The senators also refused to utilize the pick-ups. They instead turned the pick-ups over to their respective counties for the enhancement of the work of local staff.

On the contrary, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Montserrado County Rep. Kettehkumehn Murray and others have since clinched onto theirs. Rep. Murray in a counter argument maintained “You know the roads are bad; this donation is timely and is the best to help us get to our people. I am very happy and I would like to use this medium to express thanks to Mittal Steel for the donation”. Furthermore, Rep. Murray told FPA, “Liberia needs aid and several countries and organizations have been providing assistances. Therefore, Mittal Steel is no exception. “Right now, the lawmaker continued, even if the devil gives to us, we will take it. If people are saying we must not take the Mittal Steel donation then the entire country must not take donations from America, European countries and other donors.”

In the wake of the claims and counter claims by contending parties to the ethical debate, research shows issues regarding the giving or receiving of gifts in most professional groups is considered a delicate matter. It is a matter that requires sober reflection because the acceptance or rejection of gifts has the potential to either enhance or ruin professional bonds. In some cultures, small gifts (greeting cards, etc) are a token of respect and showing gratitude (Corey, G., Corey, M.S., & Callanan, P., 2007). The giving and acceptance of such gifts in most professional groups is considered appropriate or ethical. However, it is advisable when determining whether to accept or not to accept gifts from beneficiaries of public services, professionals or public officials must take into account their relationship with the giver, the monetary value of the gift, the giver’s motivation for the offer, and the professional’s motivation for accepting or declining the gift.  

 Regarding lavish gifts such as the Mittal Steel donation, which costs thousand of dollars, research establishes that they certainly present an ethical problem for the givers and the recipients. Expensive gifts have the potential of compromising professional standards and setting the stage for inducement, undue influence, conflict of interest, and ethical dilemmas. That’s why the codes of ethics of most professional groups speak against the giving and acceptance of such offers.  The on going trial of US Senator, Ted Stevens of Alaska for his alleged failure to disclose lavish gifts and $ 250,000 in home renovation he received from executives of an oil company, Veco(Herald Net, 2008), is a case in point.

Predicated on what research shows, it is conclusive to note that Mittal Steel’s intention for the gesture is good, but the professional or ethical implications associated with the acceptance of such gifts are enormous. But for the purpose of this article, the author will address three of those implications:

  Mittal Steel’s gift has the potential of creating conflict of interest or ethical dilemmas for the lawmakers, especially in times of legislative decision making on matters that may involve the interest of the company, and that of the Liberian People. Mittal Steel currently wields significant amount of power in Liberia and it is one of the largest employers in the country; whereas, the Legislature as provided in the 2006 Revenue Code Law of Liberia has the power to review and ratify contractual agreements. Hypothetically, how will the Legislature independently probe the company if, it defaults on any of the provisions stipulated in the 2005 contractual agreement when its members are literally in the pockets of Mittal Steel’s managers? 

How will the legislature and officials of the Liberian government objectively handle bids for contractual agreements that involve the interest of Mittal Steel and other companies when they feel morally obligated to the company for the kindness rendered?  Choosing between two masters with equal authority is always a delicate matter. Seasoned journalist, John Pallato, Editor of the US based eWeek.com’s Enterprise Application Center, in a 2006 report on lavish gifts and their ethical implications reasoned that the offering and acceptance of expensive gifts set the stage for indirect bribery and other unethical practices “Because even the smallest gift carries with it the assumption that “Whose bread I eat, his song I sing.”

The acceptance of the Mittal Steel donation as arrogantly opined by Montserrado County Rep., Kettehkumehn Murray “Liberia needs aid and several countries and organizations have been providing assistances. Therefore, Mittal Steel is no exception. “Right now, even if the devil gives to us, we will take it. If people are saying we must not take the Mittal Steel donation then the entire country must not take donations from America, European countries and other donors;” would further dampen the already muddy image of the Liberian government. Former House Speaker, Edwin Snowe's bribery allegation levied against some members of the House of Representatives including Rep. Kettehkumehn Murray, and Rep. Saah Gbollie for taking $ 5000 each to unseat him in 2007; coupled with the ongoing corruption probe into former Presidential Affairs Minister, Willie Knuckle E-mail scandal establishes that the credibility of the National Legislature and the Liberian Government is at stake.

Acceptance of the gift would literally provide ammunition for critics of the government in tearing down the system. Critics may interpret the Mittal Steel generosity as indirect bribery of the law makers. Such views may hurt the image of the National Legislature both at home and abroad. The Legislature could be portrayed in the eyes of the public as a group of corrupt and unprincipled people that are vulnerable to the highest bidder.

Based on the mentioned professional and ethical implications associated with the Mittal Steel donation, I wish to state that the ethical concerns raised by Sen. Saikor and his peers are legitimate. And in the interest of Liberia, I wish to throw my weight behind the senators in calling on their fellow lawmakers to reject the pick-ups.  Admittedly, I do concede that Liberia is evolving from 18 years of civil wars that wrecked the nation’s social and economic fabrics; and the need for reliable transportation such as the Mitsubishi pick-ups donated to the National Legislature can not be overstated. But keeping those pick-ups will do more harm to the reputation of the National Legislature than good.

 In order to save the image of the Liberian Government from public ridicule, I wish to propose that government, through the Good Governance Commission develop a code of conduct for public servants. The code when established must explicitly delineate the Dos and Don’ts for people entrusted with the destiny of the country. The creation of such document will curtail the tendency of public officials acting on their impulses when confronted with ethical or unethical situations. 

However, if there is a code of conduct for public servants in today’s Liberia, then, I would like to recommend that the code be revised and enforced to the letter by bringing to book transgressors. Finally, I wish to appeal to members of the National Legislature to make use of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Rules and Orders for curtailing unprofessional behaviors (bribery, conflict of interest, etc.) in the legislature. An effective utilization of the Rule and Order committees would help members of the legislature in the broadening of their horizon on ethical and unethical issues that relate to their duties and responsibilities. 

Moreover, such enlightenment will minimize the utterance of naïve statements on state matters in the media such as this, “Liberia needs aid and several countries and organizations have been providing assistances. Therefore, Mittal Steel is no exception. “Right now, even if the devil gives to us, we will take it. If people are saying we must not take the Mittal Steel donation then the entire country must not take donations from America, European countries and other donors,” attributed to Rep. Murray.