By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has begun reviewing troubling findings from a General Auditing Commission (GAC) report on the management of Nimba County’s Social Development Fund (SDF), County Development Fund (CDF), and related assets, a move that could pave the way for a full-scale corruption investigation into the handling of millions of dollars in public resources.
In a June 4, 2026 communication to Nimba County District #9 Representative, Taa Z. Wongbe, LACC Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe confirmed that the Commission has taken note of the lawmaker’s request for an investigation and possible asset recovery based on findings contained in the GAC’s compliance audit covering the period from July 1, 2018, to December 31, 2023.
The Commission acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and indicated that it is currently assessing the audit findings and other relevant information to determine whether the circumstances warrant a formal investigation.
“Consistent with its statutory mandate under the laws of Liberia, the LACC is reviewing the audit findings and all relevant information to determine whether the circumstances warrant a full-scale investigation,” Cllr. Zoe stated.
She further emphasized that the Commission’s actions would be guided by evidence and the law rather than political considerations.
“The Commission remains committed to carrying out its mandate independently, professionally, and impartially, without regard to political, personal, or other extraneous considerations,” Zoe wrote. “Where evidence establishes possible acts of corruption or related offenses, the Commission will take all appropriate actions consistent with law.”
The LACC’s response comes amid mounting public concern over what Representative Wongbe describes as alarming audit findings that point to widespread financial irregularities and weak oversight mechanisms in the management of county development resources.
Responding publicly to the Commission’s letter, Wongbe welcomed the LACC’s decision to review the matter but stressed that the audit’s findings reveal far more than routine accounting deficiencies.
“I welcome and appreciate the response from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission acknowledging my request for an investigation into the findings of the Auditor General’s audit of the Nimba County Social Development Fund and County Development Fund,” Wongbe wrote on his official Facebook page.
The lawmaker highlighted several findings that he believes demand urgent scrutiny, including more than US$2.5 million and L$34.8 million in expenditures that allegedly lacked supporting documentation, over US$735,000 linked to abandoned or uncompleted projects, and nearly US$1 million spent on heavy equipment reportedly left nonfunctional.
According to Wongbe, the audit also raised concerns about hundreds of thousands of dollars in spare parts that could not be accounted for, while county oversight mechanisms were allegedly absent for years.
For the Nimba lawmaker, the implications extend far beyond financial records and audit tables.
“This is not just about numbers on paper,” he declared. “Every dollar diverted, wasted, mismanaged, stolen, or unaccounted for is a road not built, a clinic not equipped, a school not completed, a farmer unable to get goods to market, and a mother struggling to provide for her children.”
His remarks strike at the heart of a growing national debate over accountability in the management of development funds, which are intended to finance roads, schools, health facilities, markets, and other essential projects across Liberia’s counties.
Wongbe insisted that the people of Nimba deserve a full accounting of how public resources were managed.
“The people of Nimba deserve answers. They deserve accountability. And they deserve the development that these resources were intended to provide,” he stated.
The lawmaker also vowed not to relent in pursuing the matter, signaling that legal action remains an option should investigations uncover wrongdoing.
“As a member of the Nimba Legislative Caucus, I will continue to pursue this matter through every lawful avenue available until the facts are established and appropriate action is taken. If we are to go to court, we will,” he declared.
In a move likely to intensify pressure on individuals named in the audit, Wongbe commended former public official Gonpa Osundu Dahn for stepping aside from public service while questions surrounding the report are examined.
“I also commend Gonpa Osundu Dahn for stepping aside from public service in order to clear his name. That is the responsible and honorable thing to do when serious questions have been raised,” he said, while encouraging other officials implicated in matters arising from the audit to consider doing the same.
The controversy has heightened concerns about accountability for county development funds across Liberia, where repeated audit reports have uncovered weaknesses in procurement processes, project implementation, documentation, and financial controls.
Anti-corruption advocates reacting to the LACC’s statement on social media argue that the Commission’s handling of the Nimba audit findings will be a defining test of its commitment to holding public officials accountable. Although the anti-graft body has yet to announce a formal investigation, its review of the audit report has intensified pressure on relevant institutions to explain how millions of dollars were spent and whether the public received the development benefits those funds were intended to deliver.
As public attention intensifies, Wongbe says the era of treating public funds as personal property must end.
“This cannot be business as usual,” he asserted. “The era of treating public resources as if they belong to public officials rather than the people must come to an end.”
