-For the First Time
By: Sampat JMB Kpakimah
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has officially opened the 22nd Governing Board Meeting and Strategic Review of the African Organization of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E) at the E.J.S. Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, describing the occasion as a significant milestone in Liberia’s drive for transparency, accountability, and institutional reform.
The regional gathering, hosted by Liberia for the first time since the establishment of AFROSAI-E, brought together Auditors General and delegates from 26 member states across Africa.
Delivering the keynote address, President Boakai said Liberia’s hosting of the conference reflects the Government’s commitment to strengthening accountability systems and promoting sound public financial management. He commended the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and Auditor General P. Garswa Jackson, Sr. for securing the hosting rights, describing it as a vote of confidence in Liberia’s reform agenda.
President Boakai noted that the conference comes at a critical period as member states assess progress under AFROSAI-E’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan and discuss ways to strengthen institutional cooperation across the region. He expressed confidence that deliberations in Monrovia would produce meaningful resolutions aimed at enhancing regional audit collaboration, strengthening peer support mechanisms, reinforcing the independence of Supreme Audit Institutions, and improving oversight of public resources in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Reflecting on Liberia’s post-war recovery journey, the President recalled that weak institutions and poor accountability contributed to years of instability in the country. He said the establishment of integrity institutions, including the General Auditing Commission following the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement, was intended to address corruption and transparency challenges.
The Liberian leader emphasized that his administration has taken concrete measures to strengthen accountability and restore public trust in governance. According to him, the Government has introduced performance management systems across public institutions, supported the operational independence of integrity institutions, and taken actions to address corruption and financial misconduct.
President Boakai disclosed that Liberia has conducted inaugural audits of the Presidency, the Judiciary, the Legislature, and the Central Bank of Liberia. He also highlighted the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Asset Recovery Taskforce, as well as ongoing efforts toward the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court.
Additionally, the President stated that the Government has enforced compliance with asset declaration requirements for public officials, with proceeds from penalties being redirected toward the purchase of school chairs for students nationwide.
For the first time in recent years, the General Auditing Commission received full budgetary appropriations in Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, which the President described as “an unprecedented development in our country’s recent history.” He further noted that the Government operationalized the financial independence provisions of the GAC Act of 2014 through the early disbursement of 50 percent of the institution’s approved budget.
“We have also demonstrated zero tolerance for misuse of public resources by dismissing and suspending government officials implicated in acts of misappropriation and financial misconduct,” President Boakai declared.
He urged delegates to use the Monrovia meeting not only for technical discussions, but also as an opportunity to strengthen solidarity among African oversight institutions. According to him, Africa’s vast natural resources and youthful population can only drive sustainable development if managed transparently, responsibly, and efficiently.
The President stressed that strong and independent audit institutions remain essential for promoting investor confidence, social stability, and inclusive development across the continent.
President Boakai concluded by officially declaring the 22nd Governing Board Meeting of AFROSAI-E open and welcomed delegates to Liberia.
Meanwhile, Auditor General P. Garswa Jackson, Sr. emphasized the importance of strengthening public financial management systems across Africa, noting that over the past two decades, Supreme Audit Institutions have continued to play a critical role in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance.
He disclosed that the General Auditing Commission has, over the last four years, expanded its audit coverage and strengthened its operational capacity, a move he said has saved the Liberian Government millions of dollars through the implementation of audit recommendations and corrective financial measures.
According to the Auditor General, the operationalization of auditors and the enforcement of audit recommendations have significantly enhanced accountability mechanisms within government institutions, resulting in improved compliance and financial discipline.
Auditor General Jackson called on public officials and institutions to recommit themselves to the enforcement of Liberia’s anti-corruption laws, stressing that accountability and transparency remain essential pillars for national development and public trust.
He lauded the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for disbursing 60 percent of the GAC’s approved budget upfront for the first time, describing the move as a strong demonstration of the Government’s commitment to the ARREST Agenda, transparency, and accountability.
The Auditor General further stated that the Commission has enhanced its audit systems and institutional effectiveness through strategic reforms and international partnerships. He revealed that he was elected to serve on the AFROSAI-E Governing Board for the 2025–2027 term, describing the election as a recognition of Liberia’s growing role in regional accountability and audit reforms.
Additionally, he disclosed that the GAC has signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with development partners, including Swedish institutions, partners from the United States, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank, among others, under cooperation frameworks spanning 2025–2029.
Auditor General Jackson stressed that while government institutions are expected to remain accountable to the Liberian people, they must also cooperate fully with the General Auditing Commission by remaining open, transparent, and compliant with audit processes.
“The real value of auditing lies in the practices we build, the quality standards we uphold, and the impact our recommendations make,” he said, while assuring delegates and Liberians that auditors across the region will remain relentless in carrying out their responsibilities with professionalism and integrity.
