The Auditor General of Liberia, P. Garswa Jackson Sr., and his team are set to sign a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) today. This agreement is poised to enhance the capacity of Liberia’s General Auditing Commission (GAC) through extensive collaboration with the U.S. GAO’s Center for Audit Excellence.
As part of the MoU, the GAC will benefit from various capacity-building initiatives, including online and in-person training sessions. Additionally, at least one GAC auditor will have the opportunity to participate in the prestigious International Auditor Fellowship Program, a three-month secondment designed to provide advanced audit training and international exposure.
The agreement signifies a significant milestone for the GAC, highlighting its competence, credibility, and integrity amid ongoing efforts to bolster accountability and transparency in Liberia. This development comes against multiple U.S. sanctions imposed on former Liberian government officials over alleged corruption, stressing the critical role of institutions that have maintained professional excellence.
In addition to the MoU signing, the Auditor General and his team will engage in high-profile meetings with key U.S. agencies, including the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Global Anti-Corruption Office under the U.S. Department of State, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
While these discussions remain undisclosed, they are expected to further strengthen Liberia’s partnerships with the U.S. in promoting financial integrity and combating corruption.
