During his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), President Joseph N. Boakai reaffirmed his government’s dedication to restoring public and donor confidence in Liberia’s governance system through the implementation of audit recommendations provided by the General Auditing Commission (GAC).
Highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability, President Boakai pledged his government’s commitment to implementing audit recommendations by the GAC.
“Our government is committed to implementing audit recommendations from the General Auditing Commission to restore public and donor confidence in the governance system and improve regional and international cooperation,” he stated.
To facilitate this commitment, the GAC has established the Follow-up on the Implementation of Audit Recommendations Unit.
According to Auditor General P. Garswa Jackson, this initiative aligns with international standards and the GAC Act of 2014, aiming to enhance the technical capacity for entities subject to audits.
AG Jackson said the unit is spearheaded by Anthony Jr. Henry, who is dedicated to ensuring that auditees fully comprehend and act on audit recommendations efficiently.
According to him, the unit will classify audit recommendations into four categories: fully implemented, partially implemented, not implemented, and not implemented due to budgetary constraints.
This classification aims to clarify the reasons behind the status of each recommendation, distinguishing between a lack of commitment and resource limitations.
The Liberian Auditor General disclosed on his official Facebook page that, in line with this initiative, the GAC plans to release an annual status report on the implementation of audit recommendations, as was done in July 2024.
“This report will not only highlight successful implementers but will also publicly identify institutions that fail to act on recommendations, thereby fostering accountability through a ‘name and fame’ and ‘name and shame’ approach,” he highlighted.
Jackson further revealed that the GAC will collaborate with the Public Accounts Committee of the Legislature to organize regular public hearings focused on institutions that have not complied with audit recommendations, further reinforcing a culture of accountability.
He stated, “President Boakai emphasized the significant impact that timely and thorough implementation of audit recommendations can have on the operations and service delivery of government entities.”
The Liberian leader, while delivering his speech at UNGA, noted that such actions improve systems and controls, enhance compliance with laws and regulations, and ultimately add value to the services provided to the public.
As Liberia strives for greater transparency and accountability, these efforts signal a pivotal step towards rebuilding trust in government institutions and fostering a culture of integrity and responsibility.
