MONROVIA – On Monday, July 15, 2024, the Joint Public Accounts, Expenditure and Audit Committee (Joint PAC) of the Liberian Legislature held its much-anticipated public opening ceremony at the Joint Chambers of the Capitol Building. The event was attended by high-profile figures, including Speaker of the House Hon. Cllr J. Fonati Koffa and Senate Pro Tempore Sen. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, as well as heads of integrity institutions such as LACC, IAF, GAC, LEITI, NIF, and CENTAL. Representatives from USAID, a major donor partner, were also present. However, the ceremony quickly became a focal point for criticism and public disillusionment due to unfulfilled promises of transparency.
Hon. Clarence Gahr, Chair of the House PAC and Joint Chair of the Joint PAC, opened the ceremony with a call for vigilance in the collective fight for accountability and transparency. He urged the leadership and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) to ensure budgetary allocations for integrity institutions to enable them to perform their statutory responsibilities. Sen. Amara M. Konneh, Chairman on Senate PAC and Joint Chair of Joint PAC, emphasized the need to respect the processes from audit to public hearings and subsequent executive recommendations for action.
A significant point of contention emerged when AG Jackson of the General Auditing Commission highlighted the lack of public hearings for over 180 audit reports completed during his three-year tenure, with only three hearings held by the PAC. Both Hon. Cllr J. Fonati Koffa and Sen. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence pledged to increase the budgets of the Joint PAC and its Secretariat, promising full support for the integrity institutions. Public hearings were scheduled to commence on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
However, the ceremony’s initial promise of transparency was undermined by a glaring omission: the absence of a live broadcast on Facebook, as previously promised by Sen. Konneh. This lapse did not go unnoticed by the public, leading to a wave of criticism on social media platforms, particularly Facebook.
Eddie D. Jarwolo, Executive Director of NAYMOTE-Liberia, criticized the change, asking, “Hon. Senator, you promised live hearing, what changed?” Ernest Bryant expressed a deep sense of disillusionment, stating, “When I look at some of the faces standing there I see no hope for Liberia.” Stratified Edward K. Devine echoed this sentiment, questioning, “We were promised to follow live. Why did the plan change, Sir?” Abenego F. Russell’s comment, “Hmmm until I see it. I will not comment,” captured the widespread skepticism among citizens.
The criticism stems from Sen. Konneh’s earlier statement assuring the public of live broadcasts of the hearings. He had announced, “The Joint Public Accounts and Audit Committee of the Liberian Legislature, which I co-chair with Representative Clarence Gahr of Margibi County, will commence public hearings on audit reports completed by the General Auditing Commission starting Monday, July 15, 2024. A dedicated Facebook page has been established for official broadcasting and dissemination of public information. Those with an interest in public accountability and transparency in Liberia are encouraged to follow the page for updates.”
Despite these assurances, the promised transparency did not materialize. The failure to broadcast the ceremony live, coupled with the lack of explanation for this omission, has fueled public distrust and disappointment. This incident underscores the challenges facing Liberia’s integrity institutions and highlights the gap between public expectations and official actions.
As the Joint PAC held its first public hearings, it remains to be seen whether they will follow through on their commitments to transparency and accountability. The initial misstep serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining public trust through consistent and open communication. The leaders of the 55th Legislature must now work to rebuild this trust by ensuring that future proceedings are conducted with the transparency and integrity they have pledged to uphold.
