A damning 2024 GAC Audit Report, with a copy in possession of Verity News, has exposed Labor Minister, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, over allegations of noncompliance, mismanagement, and financial improprieties when he served as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.
US$1.67 Million and US$41.6 Million were spent without supporting evidence according to the GAC.
The latest audit reports by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) have placed the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications under the spotlight due to troubling financial discrepancies and a dark shadow on the Ministry’s financial management practices.
The report covers the period from 2018 through 2023 under the watch of the current Labor Minister, Cllr. Cooper Kruah.
Cllr. Kruah served the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications from 2018 to 2023, before being dismissed by former President George M. Weah based on political lines.
The GAC’s latest findings on the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications reveal a series of irregularities that include payroll and personnel issues, payments without evidence, non-disclosure of bank accounts, and overspending beyond the Ministry’s approved budget.
The audit report exposes inconsistencies in payroll records, raising questions about the accuracy of personnel compensation and management.
According to the audit report, the Ministry reportedly failed to disclose two checking accounts held at the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI), contravening standard financial transparency practices.
The report disclosed that the MPT spent significantly beyond its approved budget, with discrepancies totaling millions of USD across the fiscal years 2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021, respectively. The report shows that the expenditure of the Ministry varied from the budget, amounting to a discrepancy of USD 1,667,903.00.
The GAC report highlighted multiple instances of revenue generated but deposited into non-designated accounts.
According to the report, the total revenue unaccounted for amounted to USD 62,726.27 and LRD 545,110.00, with irregularities in cash handling and undocumented spending.
The GAC report disclosed discrepancies between the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) and MPT’s records.
The total variances between the IFMIS and MPT records amounted to USD 635,941.51 across the audited years.
The report reveals a troubling variance between fees generated from mail services and the revenue reported by MPT, totaling USD 146,986.19.
In addition, the report found discrepancies in DHL/FEDEX/IB services fees amounting to USD 51,629.03.
All of these financial malfeasance and discrepancies allegedly took place under the watchful eye of then-Minister Cllr. Kruah, who is now serving as the Labor Minister.
The GAC’s findings further highlight systemic financial mismanagement within the Ministry, raising serious concerns about accountability and transparency.
As this latest GAC audit report makes its way through the relevant government ministries and agencies and surfaces in the public space, it is expected to prompt a thorough review of MPT’s financial practices and other government ministries and agencies, which might lead to reforms aimed at addressing issues of transparency and accountability in the public sector.
The implications of these findings for the MPT are grave.
They have the potential to affect the credibility of the Ministry and prompt calls for greater oversight and stricter financial controls.
The public and stakeholders await further action and clarification on the steps that will be taken in response to the GAC’s revelations by President Joseph N. Boakai. Some pundits believe that Pres. Boakai;s appointment of Cllr. Kruah was a reward for alleged mismanagement and corruption at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
The concern now is whether President Boakai will take drastic action against Minister Kruah, given that he was elected on the mantra of fighting corruption, or if it will be business as usual.
The public is keenly watching to see the actions that Pres. Boakai will take in the spirit of transparency and accountability.
