CDC resists audit of Weah administration

By Lewis S. Teh

The former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) says it takes serious exception to President Boakai’s recent instruction to the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to conduct a comprehensive audit of the Weah administration, instead, urging former officials here not to subject themselves to any form of auditing.

“We want to call on all former officials of the CDC government not to subject themselves to any form of kangaroo audit by Mr. Boakai and his likes”, the CDC reacts.

President Boakai gave the mandate a week ago, specifically directing that the audit starts with three key institutions of government, including the Central Bank of Liberia, the Executive Protective Services, and the National Security Agency, respectively.

 But the former ruling party through its National Youth League made the call in a press conference held during the weekend at its headquarters in Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia.

President Boakai in a communication dated February 7, 2024, to the Auditor General of Liberia, instructed that the audit covers the period between 2018 and 2023 and that findings be reported in three months.

The audit period spans the six-year stewardship of the Weah administration.

It marks the beginning of a holistic audit of government ministries and agencies in keeping with the President’s commitment to fighting corruption as well as ensuring transparency and accountability in the governance of the country.

President Boakai at different public engagements, most notably, during the campaign period, the inaugural address, and the annual message committed and recommitted to ensuring that a comprehensive audit of the previous government is done. 

During his Annual Message, the President announced that what his predecessor reported about the state of the country’s financial standing at the Central Bank of Liberia is far from reality, based on documentary records, and re-emphasized the need to audit the CBL and other agencies.

But reacting to the President’s pronouncement on behalf of the CDC, former Assistant Minister of Agriculture for Extension, Alvin C. Wesseh, said they are aware that the attempt by President Boakai to audit the former regime is to witch-haunt past officials of the Weah administration with an aim to falsely indict them and eventually get rid of the CDC.

“While we welcome the call for audit, we also want to admonish Mr. Boakai to be holistic in spanning the auditing period from 2006-2017, and from 2018-2023 if only he is genuine in the fight against corruption”, Wesseh argues.

The former Assistant Minister and current Vice Chair for Operation for the CDC Youth League says if President Boakai is sincere about the corruption fight, he should start with existing audit reports from 2011-2017,  rather than calling for additional audits.

He wonders why the President hasn’t commissioned an audit into the US$ $650,000 intended for the inauguration and the US$350,000 intended for district celebration, adding that it’s often said that “one who preaches equity must come with clean hands.”

He underscores that Mr. Boakai needs to understand that the CDC will resist any form of intimidation and political witch-haunt.

Meanwhile, the CDC says they are concerned about protests by soldiers’ wives against the recent confirmation of defense minister-designate, Prince C. Johnson, III.

News coming in last evening said President Boakai has accepted the resignation of Minister Johnson.

“We call on Mr. Boakai and the senate not to be insensitive to the plights of these women”, he says, adding that the continuous strike actions by these women have created inconveniences for people traveling along the Robertfield highway, something he notes has the proclivity to undermine peace and stability of the country. Editing by Jonathan Browne