By Amos Harris
Liberia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) is under intense scrutiny after a damning follow-up audit by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) revealed a near-total disregard for oversight recommendations intended to strengthen accountability and protect public resources. According to the Auditor General’s Annual Progress Report on the Implementation of Audit Recommendations, the NDMA implemented only one out of 82 audit recommendations between August 30, 2024, and August 31, 2025. This represents an alarming compliance rate of just 1 percent, painting a picture of an agency mired in persistent governance failures and institutional inertia.
Auditor General P. Garswa Jackson has warned that the NDMA’s continued failure to act on audit findings places public funds at significant risk. This lack of action undermines confidence in an institution specifically entrusted with safeguarding lives and property during national emergencies. The report highlights that this noncompliance is not an isolated incident but a pattern spanning multiple audit cycles. During the initial follow-up phase from September 2022 to March 2024, the agency failed to implement a single recommendation, leaving the overall compliance landscape virtually unchanged over several years.
Auditors cited chronic weaknesses within the agency, including poor accounting for public funds and repeated violations of public financial management and procurement laws. These deficiencies are compounded by fragile internal control systems which, according to accountability advocates, substantially increase the risk of waste, misuse of resources, and potential corruption. The GAC also raised concerns about the NDMA’s lack of cooperation, reporting prolonged delays and slow responses to official correspondence that effectively prevented auditors from conducting monitoring visits to verify any corrective actions.
The agency was subsequently classified as only “Partially Compliant,” with the report noting that the NDMA failed to meaningfully engage beyond the introductory stage of the follow-up process. Because audit recommendations are designed to address undocumented or missing funds and weak oversight, the GAC cautions that ignoring these vulnerabilities creates fertile ground for systemic abuse. Under the General Auditing Commission Act of 2014, these findings are shared with the President, the Legislature, and the Public Accounts Committee to ensure the public remains informed about the management of state resources.
The potential impact of these failures extends beyond financial ledgers, as the NDMA is responsible for disaster preparedness and emergency responses to floods, fires, and other crises. The report warns that weak financial management could directly undermine the agency’s capacity to respond effectively when emergencies strike, potentially leaving vulnerable communities without necessary resources. While the audit stops short of a direct accusation of corruption, governance experts argue that a sustained failure to address audit findings serves as a major red flag that requires urgent national attention to restore public trust.