Alliance Terminal Logistics (ATL) Code of Ethics and Conduct sets out the standard of behaviour expected of all ATL Board Members, Employees and Contractors.

1. CODE OF ETHICS

Personal Integrity

We act with care and diligence and make decisions that are honest,  fair,  impartial, and timely, and consider all relevant information.

Relationships with Others

We treat people with respect, courtesy, and sensitivity, and recognise their interests, rights, safety, and welfare.

Accountability

We use  the  resources  of   the   State   in   a   responsible   and   accountable  manner that  ensures  the  efficient,  effective  and  appropriate  use  of  human, natural, financial and physical resources, property and information.

2. CODE OF CONDUCT

Personal Behavior

We, the Board Members, Staff Members and Contractors of ATL will:

  • act in accordance with ATL’s Corporate Values of integrity, excellence, community and innovation;

  • treat people with respect, courtesy, honesty and fairness, having proper regard for their interests, rights, safety and welfare. We will ensure  that these qualities of conduct are exhibited in all our interactions;

  • be sensitive to the differences between people and understand that people have many ways of contributing in the workplace. We value the participation of people with different genders, abilities, backgrounds, cultures, religious beliefs and ethnicity;

  • provide an environment free of harassment, bullying or unlawful discrimination;

  • ensure that people are made aware of their rights and are not disadvantaged or treated unfairly;

  • contribute to a harmonious, safe and productive work environment;

  • act fairly, impartially and promptly, considering all available information, legislative requirements, policies and procedures and without bias;

  • engage with openness, honesty and transparency in our dealings;

  • make informed decisions and give due consideration to all points of view;

  • ensure constructive and cooperative relationships are built between ATL and other public sector agencies, in order to work together to achieve outcomes that benefit the people of Liberia


Communication and Official Information

We, the Board Members, Staff Members and Contractors of ATL will:

  • not make public statements without the approval of the Chair of the Board (in the case of Board Members) or (in the case of Staff Members and Contractors) the Chief Executive Officer or Director of Corporate and Government Affairs (in accordance with the Corporate Delegations Manual);

  • adhere to ATL’s Social Media Policy and Social Media Guidelines;

  • maintain confidentiality and not disclose any official information or documents acquired in our duties, other than as required by law or where  proper authorisation is given;

  • not make improper use of official information obtained in our daily duties for direct or indirect personal or commercial gain for ourselves or others, or to do harm to others;

  • protect intellectual property;

  • respect the privacy of individuals and the security of personal information;

  • seek advice about the appropriate release of information if required;

  • adhere to any legal requirements regarding communication with Parliament, Ministers, ministerial staff, lobbyists, the media and members of the public;

  • not permit lobbying by a lobbyist who is not in the lobbyist register, and act in accordance with the ‘Contact with Lobbyists Code’ outlined in  the Commissioner’s Instruction No. 16.

Fraudulent or Corrupt Behavior

We, the Board Members, Staff Members and Contractors of ATL will:

  • not dishonestly obtain or attempt to obtain an unfair or unlawful benefit or advantage for ourselves or another individual or entity, or dishonestly cause or attempt to cause a detriment to others;

  • report any information about actual or potentially fraudulent, corrupt or illegal activities, or the mismanagement of public resources, to ATL’s Public Interest Disclosure Officers*;

  • be objective in carrying out our responsibilities and develop and follow ATL’s policies, procedures and processes, to ensure personal profit or motive does not bias our judgment or affect our impartiality.

*As defined in ATL’s Public Interest Disclosure Procedure.

Use of Public Resources

We, the Board Members, Staff Members and Contractors of ATL will:

  • act to maintain the value of public assets and seek their use for the benefit of the people of Liberia. We understand that ATL’s assets belong to the people of Western Liberia and are held in trust for the benefit of present and future generations of Liberians;

  • be accountable for all expenditure in accordance with ATL’s policies and procedures;

  • not use public resources for party political work or private financial gain;

  • deal carefully with, and manage responsibly, the people,  the environment, and the property entrusted to us;

  • identify risks and potential hazards in our areas of responsibility and manage these to reduce the likelihood of adverse effects on the ports, port users and the community.

Recordkeeping and use of Information

We, the Board Members, Staff Members and Contractors of ATL, will:

  • keep good records of our decisions and actions and the reasons for them to assist transparency;

  • ensure that the business, operational and administrative activities of ATL are appropriately documented and that records are created, maintained, stored and disposed of in fulfilment of legislative requirements;

  • not falsify, alter, remove or damage records;

  • not back-date information;

  • not disclose or misuse confidential or commercially sensitive information acquired through our position, other than as required by law or where proper authorisation is given.

Conflicts of Interest and Gifts and Benefits

We, the Board Members, Staff Members and Contractors of ATL will:

  • identify and manage actual, perceived or potential conflicts of interest, to ensure public confidence in ATL is maintained;

  • not permit any private, commercial or political interests to interfere with our duties;

  • ensure that we, and other individuals known to us through association, will not benefit from information of circumstances arising through the business of ATL;

  • not accept gifts, benefits or hospitality likely to place us under an actual or perceived financial or moral obligation to other organisations or individuals;

  • understand in what circumstances gifts, benefits and hospitality may be accepted or offered in accordance with ATL procedures, if at all;

  • not demand or accept in connection with our official duties any fee, commission, reward, gratuity or remuneration of any kind which is outside ATL’s remuneration and conditions of employment;

  • understand that accepting or offering a gift, benefit or hospitality may create a personal interest where one did not previously exist.

Reporting Suspected Breaches of the Code of Ethics and Conduct

We, the Board Members, Staff Members and Contractors of ATL:

  • understand the consequences of misconduct and actions that may be taken if we do not comply with the Code of Ethics and Conduct;

  • understand that we have a responsibility to, and will, report any breaches of the Code of Ethics and Conduct to their Supervisor, Manager or the General Manager Physical & Human Resources, in the case of a breach by Staff Members and Contractors, and to the Chair or Chief Executive Officer or Corporate Secretary, in the case of a Board Member.

Given their leadership and oversight role on matters of corporate culture, breaches of the Code of Ethics and Conduct will be reported to the Executive Committee and Board on a regular basis. Reporting of non-compliances with the Code of Ethics and Conduct will be included in ATL’s Annual Report.

Depending on the nature of the breach, reporting to ATL’s Public Interest Disclosure Officers may be appropriate, in accordance with ATL’s Public Interest Disclosure Procedure.

Breaches of the Code of Ethics and Conduct

Investigations into breaches of the Code of Ethics and Conduct will be carried out in a fair, impartial and prompt fashion in accordance with ATL’s procedures. Breaches of the Code of Ethics and Conduct will be dealt with in accordance with ATL’s Fraud and Corruption Control Plan and Discipline Procedure, which may include reporting such breaches to the Public Service Commission or Corruption and Crime Commission as appropriate. Breaches of the Code will be reported to the Risk and Audit Committee.

Breaches of the Code of Ethics and Conduct by a Board Member may also be managed in accordance with the Board of Directors Charter.

Further information

Board Members, Staff Members and Contractors can contact the Corporate Secretary for guidance and queries in relation to the Code of Ethics and Conduct. ATL Staff Members are required to undertake Working with Respect Training, which addresses the content of this Code of Ethics and Conduct, every two years.
This Code of Ethics and Conduct should be read in conjunction with the relevant ATL policies and procedures, including:

  • Conflict of Interest Gifts and Benefits Procedure;

  • Fraud and Corruption Control Plan;

  • Public Interest Disclosure Procedure;

  • Corporate Delegations Manual;

  • Social Media Policy;

  • Discipline Procedure;

  • Workplace Issue and Grievance Procedure; and

  • (for Board Members), the Board of Directors Charter.

Review

Unless required sooner, this Code of Ethics and Conduct will be reviewed every two years.

3. PROCESS OWNER

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the implementation of this Code of Ethics and Conduct. The Board is collectively responsible for approving and monitoring the implementation of this Code of Ethics and Conduct.