MONROVIA – The General Auditing Commission (GAC) of Liberia has rated the financial compliance of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) as “significantly improved” under the leadership of Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan as Director General. The audit covered the period from August 20, 2024 to August 31, 2025 within Dr. Nyan’s leadership and demonstrates that NPHIL’s compliance with implementation of audit recommendations rose to 81% from 61% in previous audit follow-ups.
Dr. Nyan, a globally recognized biomedical scientist, inventor, and public health expert took over the leadership of the NPHIL on August 19, 2024 and stressed financial accountability, transparency, and fiscal discipline in handling the finances of the institution, while also emphasizing a zero tolerance for corruption and mismanagement.
According to the Auditor General’s Annual Progress Report on the Implementation of Audit Recommendations for NPHIL, the audit follow-up constitutes part of a nationwide exercise conducted at 62 government entities. These audit-follow-ups, according to Auditor General P. Garswa Jackson, are conducted in line with the GAC Act of 2014 and international auditing standards.
The results demonstrates that NPHIL implemented 75 out of 93 (81%) audit recommendations reviewed during the second phase of the exercise under Dr. Nyan’s leadership. This represents a notable increase in implementation, as previously, only 40 out of 66 (61%) recommendations were implemented by past administration.
This independent account of marked efficiency under Dr. Nyan’s leadership at NPHIL further demonstrates a well-coordinated administrative leadership at the NPHIL within the period under review by the GAC.
Under Dr. Nyan’s administration, the NPHIL’s technical, diagnostic, research, diseases surveillance and administrative capacities were strengthened. The public health entity has also achieved national and international recognition, with NPHIL designated as an “Africa Regional Center of Excellence for National Public Health Institute Development” by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
In the past several weeks, the GAC audit follow-up intensively reviewed financial statements and project audits at NPHIL. As a result of this exercise, the financial statements assessment revealed that 52 of 66 recommendations were implemented, giving a 79% implementation rate, while, the project audit registered that 23 of 27 recommendations were addressed, giving an 85% implementation rate.
On the whole, the audit recorded that 64 recommendations (69%) were fully implemented, while 22 recommendations (24%) were partially implemented; and, only 7 other recommendations (7%) are still being implemented.
“The overall result demonstrates a strong level of commitment by NPHIL to addressing audit issues and strengthening financial management and operational systems,” the report stated.
Based on these results, the GAC rated NPHIL as “Compliant – Light Green,” and placing the institution in the “Significant Implementation” category.
The GAC reports that the audit follow-up process included on-site monitoring visits, acquaintance meetings, validation of corrective actions, monitoring visits, and reviews of documentary evidence to confirm implementation claims. One on-site monitoring visit was conducted to verify records, systems, and procedures related to the audit recommendations.
The report then recognized that “the progress achieved is encouraging, but continued attention is required to fully close remaining gaps and promote accountability in the use of public resources.”
The NPHIL leadership under Dr. Nyan ensured a collaborative teamwork mainly with the NPHIL’s Finance Division, the Division of Grant Management, the Division of Procurement, and the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) to accomplish this milestone of financial discipline.
