Liberia Finance and Development Planing Minister Boima Kamara has come under public scrutiny for his alleged act of tempering with the 2024 National Budget Law.
It comes as the House of Representatives on today mandated its leadership to investigate claims of unauthorized alterations in the 2024 National Budget Law.
This decision was reached on Thursday, June 6, 2024, during the 7th day of the legislative session. The directive came in response to a communication from Hon. Clarence G. Gar of Electoral District 5, Margibi County.
Rep. Gar’s letter raised alarms about potential illegal changes made to the budget law, urging his colleagues to recall and review the document. He pointed specifically to the replacement of the Legislative Budget Office (LBO) with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), an amendment he claimed was not part of the originally agreed-upon provisions.
In his communication, Rep. Gar stated, “It can be recalled that at the end of the 2024 National Budget deliberations, a motion was made by Hon. James Kolleh of District 2, Bong County, wherein he stated that wherever ‘LBO’ is written in the 2024 National Budget Law, it should be automatically replaced with ‘PAC.’ This motion was unanimously voted on and passed into law.”
The concern expressed by Rep. Gar centers on the integrity of the legislative process and the importance of ensuring that all amendments to the budget are transparent and legally binding. The purported alteration, if true, would constitute a serious breach of legislative protocol and could undermine public trust in the government’s fiscal management.
Following a heated floor debate, the plenary accepted a motion from Hon. Ivar Jones, agreeing to forward Rep. Gar’s communication to the House Leadership for further action. The House Leadership has been tasked with summoning the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to present a copy of the budget and clarify the alleged modifications. They are expected to appear before the House within one week to address these serious allegations.
The mandate to probe these claims underscores the House’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the legislative process and ensuring accountability in the management of public funds. This investigation will be crucial in determining whether the budget law was tampered with and, if so, who is responsible for the unauthorized changes.
The replacement of the LBO with the PAC, as highlighted by Rep. Gar, is a significant alteration. The LBO traditionally plays a critical role in analyzing budget proposals and providing non-partisan information to assist the legislature in making informed decisions. The PAC, on the other hand, typically focuses on scrutinizing public expenditures and ensuring financial accountability. While both bodies are essential to fiscal oversight, their functions are distinct, and any changes to their roles must be made transparently and through proper legislative procedures.
The House’s decision to investigate these claims reflects a broader concern about the potential for corruption and mismanagement in the handling of national finances. Ensuring that the budget process is transparent and accountable is fundamental to good governance and public trust.
As the Ministry of Finance prepares to respond to the House’s summons, all eyes will be on the upcoming proceedings. This investigation has the potential to uncover significant issues within the budget process and could lead to important reforms aimed at strengthening fiscal oversight and preventing future tampering.
The outcome of this probe will be closely watched by both the public and stakeholders, as it will set a precedent for how similar allegations are handled in the future.
The House of Representatives has taken a critical step in safeguarding the integrity of Liberia’s budgetary process, and the forthcoming investigation will be a test of the country’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.
