“No evidence that Contracts, amounting to US$11,866,308.34, were awarded and processed through competitive bidding processes,” GAC Audit Report covering Jan. 2018 to Dec. 2023.
Monrovia – Liberia: As public outcry for accountability and transparency in Liberia intensifies, Verity News has obtained the CBL Audit Report, and it shows that contracts amounting to US$11,866.308.34 were awarded without competitive bidding which is in gross violation of the 2009 Public Financial Management Law (PFM).
As civil society actors and pro-justice advocates heighten calls to end longstanding impunity of war and economic crimes in Liberia, the Boakai-led administration is under pressure to prosecute past government officials based on damaging findings of dozens of audit reports that the General Auditing Commission (GAC) has forwarded to the Office of President Joseph Boakai.
The leaked CBL audit report in possession of Verity News covering January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2023, has exposed a wave of financial improprieties and compliance irregularities associated with goods and services procured under the Weah-led administration.
The GAC report claimed that it found no evidence that Contracts, amounting to US$11,866,308.34, were awarded and processed through competitive bidding processes. It further stated that there was no evidence of appropriate supporting procurement documents (approved bids, bid evaluation reports, procurement committee decision on bid evaluation, notice of contract award, notice to non-qualified bidders, etc.).
“No evidence that 19 contracts, totaling US$1,537,044.76, awarded in FY 2020 are included in the approved procurement plan for FY 2020,” Section 1.3.6.5 of the GAC Report stated.
The report concluded that the approved procurement plan for FY2020 appropriated US$12,000 to purchase generators; however, a contract valued at US$317,619.00 was awarded to Family POL Business for purchasing two generators. According to the report, Iridum Solutions was awarded a contract valued at US$108,240.00 for Microsoft License; however, Iridum Solutions was paid US$110,400.00 on December 14, 2022, for an annual Microsoft License subscription in Fiscal Year 2022.
The GAC report also revealed that there was no evidence of supporting documents (Delivery note, Tax clearance, Business Registration, Good Receipt Notes) for payments totaling US$386,740.45 for goods/services procured in FY 2020. The management of the CBL claimed to have paid vendors a total of US$896,363.10, but the GAC report revealed that there was no proof of said payment.
Furthermore, the GAC report established that there was no fuel distribution/consumption log for fuel “procured” for some transactions totaling US$126,390.
During the reporting period, it was also observed that the CBL Management awarded contracts totaling US$1,765,380.96 and US$2,285,038.95 for the fiscal years 2018 and 2019 respectively without evidence of an approved procurement policy, approved procurement plans, and approved budgets.
The report showed no evidence that the bank’s officers responsible for making decisions affecting contracting, tendering, and or procurement declared their assets and did sign performance or financial bonds.
The report claimed that the Procurement Policy adopted in 2010 by the Board of Governors in May 2020 did not corroborate with provisions of the PPCC Act such as provisions for procurement planning, procurement committee, etc. Additionally, there was no evidence of the bank maintaining a policy on Anti Money Laundering and Countering /Combating Financing of Terrorism.
As dozens of damning audit reports descend on President Joseph Boakai’s desks, a huge trunk of the population, including pro-Boakai supporters, is demanding full accountability and an end to impunity in Liberia.
