MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Bishop Kortu K. Brown, pastor of the New Water in the Desert Assembly, has raised serious concerns about alleged tampering with Liberia’s 2024 national budget. In a statement issued on Saturday, September 7, 2024, Bishop Brown expressed alarm over revelations by the House of Representatives that the approved national budget was altered without the knowledge of the general body that passed it.
“This is a grave allegation,” said Bishop Brown, reacting to a report from a specialized committee confirming unauthorized alterations to the budget. The Plenary of the House of Representatives endorsed the committee’s findings on Tuesday, September 4, raising concerns nationwide.
Bishop Brown, former President of the Interreligious Council of Liberia, questioned the integrity of the legislative process. “Why would lawmakers approve a budget, set it in motion, and then begin changing figures without a formal review process mandated by the body? It speaks negatively of the country and its people. If this is true, then it’s like daylight robbery,” he stated.
The budget investigation was initiated when Margibi County Representative Clarence Garh raised concerns about possible fiscal discrepancies. Bishop Brown commended Rep. Garh’s efforts to promote accountability but called for more than just an investigation. He noted the public’s disappointment in the House’s decision to halt further budget reviews without identifying or penalizing those responsible for the alterations.
“There are concerns in many quarters as to what will come out of this embarrassing development. Liberians deserve to know who tampered with the 2024 budget and for what reasons,” Bishop Brown said. Reports indicate that a motion passed by the plenary, requiring budget performance reports to be submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), was also altered.
Bishop Brown urged the Legislature to establish a joint committee comprising both the House of Representatives and the Senate to thoroughly investigate the issue. He emphasized that failure to properly address the matter could erode public confidence in the Legislature.
“I believe even President Boakai should be concerned about this because it erodes public confidence in the government. It makes the government look like a ‘play, play government,’” he cautioned. He drew parallels to past crises, such as the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the civil unrest during former President Charles Taylor’s regime, where public distrust hampered government efforts.
Bishop Brown also highlighted other ongoing national issues, including the controversial earth-moving equipment acquisition (yellow machines saga), the importation of buses from Ghana, excessive salaries for officials of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and the growing economic hardships faced by ordinary Liberians. He concluded by insisting that those who altered the 2024 national budget must be held accountable.
“Liberia is already facing too many problems. The people who tampered with the 2024 national budget must be brought to account,” Bishop Brown concluded.
