Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has declared an inquiry into the dubious spending, after the government’s decision to spend an astounding US$15 million above budget. LACC Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe voiced concerns during a news conference on the purported US$15 million in off-budget expenditures by the Liberian government. The LACC takes these accusations seriously, as Cllr. Zoe made clear, because they are in line with the Commission’s purpose to maintain accountability and openness.
“These accusations are taken seriously because they address issues that are fundamental to the goals of our organization. If verified, off-budget spending has the potential to erode public confidence in government, erode fiscal restraint, and jeopardize the nation’s financial stability. We guarantee the public that, in our capacity as an organization tasked with protecting public resources, we will conduct a thorough inquiry. Cllr. Zoe said, “If proof of misconduct is discovered, we will pursue the appropriate legal remedies, including suggesting fines, prosecutions, and other corrective measures.
In order to validate the claims, determine responsibility, and guarantee that the proper legal actions are done, she gave the public the assurance that the LACC has started a preliminary examination of the accusations. This will be followed by an extensive inquiry.
The UP-led administration accumulated controversial spending from January to August 2024, which prompted the LACC to launch its probe. Off-budget spending totaling US$15 million was disclosed by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).
Of the stated outlays, the government set aside US$2,307,609 for mysterious miscellaneous costs and US$2.5 million for National Security Agency (NSA) clandestine operations. The United States Congress paid US$812,612 and the House of Representatives US$1.5 million for extraordinary sessions.
For the Miss Earth 2024 beauty contest, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) paid US$40,000. Additionally, the Ministry of State reported paying US$30,000 for Hon. Othello Gongar’s burial, US$10,000 for Dr. Robtel N. Pailey’s speech at Liberia’s 2024 Independence Day festivities, and US$60,000 for the President’s meetings with local leaders.
US$40,000 for the Mano River Union Conference, US$500,000 for Independence Day celebrations, and US$100,000 for moving Foreign Service personnel were allotted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For the creation of the report, the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) was awarded US$453,000, while the Ministry of Justice paid US$291,552 for legal costs related to the SOLWAY Mining Liberia arbitration dispute.
The LACC’s dedication to carrying out the inquiry independently and with complete openness was reiterated by Cllr. Zoe. In order to guarantee a comprehensive and impartial investigation, she continued, the LACC would involve pertinent parties, such as the Ministry of Finance and other monitoring organizations.
“We guarantee the public that every effort will be made to complete this inquiry, since we are the institution responsible for protecting public resources. We shall take the appropriate legal action, such as suggesting penalties, prosecutions, and other corrective steps, if proof of misconduct is discovered.
She also urged everyone to observe the due process norms by allowing the inquiry to move forward without undue conjecture or assumption from the public, media, or other stakeholders.
“We will vigorously pursue legal action against anyone who makes accusations of financial impropriety as part of our larger initiatives to uphold public funds and encourage responsibility. Let’s make sure that every conclusion is supported by verified facts and data.”
