…Welcomes Judiciary Reform Plans
By Amos Harris
Monrovia, Liberia – The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has called on the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to launch a full-scale investigation into the findings of the General Auditing Commission’s (GAC) audit of the Government of Liberia’s Consolidated Fund Account for the 2024 fiscal year.
The audit, which covered January 1 to December 31, 2024, revealed significant lapses in revenue collection and public financial management. Key findings include disbursements made without proper supporting documents, underfunding of critical public services, and significant off-budget spending by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).
According to the report, the MFDP disbursed over US$2.8 million above approved budget allocations, while more than US$78 million in budgeted funds were not released, affecting 106 ministries and agencies. Auditors also flagged that 11 state-owned enterprises paid only US$5.6 million of the US$10.1 million in income tax they owed, resulting in steep revenue losses.
The audit also exposed weaknesses at the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), including limited expansion of tax reporting systems to rural areas and inadequate staff deployment in revenue collection centers.
Describing the revelations as “deeply troubling,” CENTAL said they reflect persistent failures in financial governance and a lack of political will to strengthen accountability. “Similar audits in previous years showed even more worrying trends, which indicate that the national government is not doing enough to break away from the ugly past,” the group said.
Meanwhile, CENTAL welcomed reform plans recently announced by Chief Justice Yamie Gbeisay, who pledged during his inaugural address in August 2024 to implement “credential audits” to verify qualifications of judicial staff and financial audits to curb corruption within the judiciary. He also promised a policy of “zero tolerance” for unethical conduct by judicial actors.
CENTAL praised the move as a crucial step toward rebuilding public trust in a judiciary that has long been plagued by allegations of corruption. The organization urged the General Auditing Commission and the Civil Service Agency to expedite the audits and ensure their findings are acted upon.
In its recommendations, CENTAL called for the LACC to investigate off-budget spending and violations of the Public Financial Management Law;
The Legislature’s Joint Public Accounts Committee will hold public hearings on the GAC report.
Citizens to demand compliance with financial laws to safeguard resources;
The LRA to decentralize its tax systems and strengthen staff deployment in rural areas.
The group emphasized that only decisive action from integrity institutions and government actors can put an end to financial malpractice, boost accountability, and ensure that national resources benefit ordinary Liberians.
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