Legal action awaits GAC indictees

The Joint Public Account Committee or PAC of the Liberian Legislature has announced that serious legal action awaits those officials indicted recently by the General Auditing Commission or GAC.

The committee at a press conference in Monrovia hosted by its chairman, Grand Cape Mount County Senator, Edward Dagoseh said, after series of public hearings, the body has recommended to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for possible prosecution of violators of the public trust. 

Senator Dagoseh said the process is intended to take decisions on audit reports submitted to the National Legislature by the General Auditing Commission.

Ministries involved in the alleged misappropriation include Education (Free and Compulsory Primary Education), Gender and Development and Justice (Prison System). Others are state owned enterprises (SOEs), National Port Authority Landed Properties and the Robert International Airport.

The hearings on the Audit Reports brought to light many issues, ranging from procurement malpractices, administrative malpractice, fraudulent activities, non-functioning internal audit systems and internal control lapses by senior officials of government and the state owned enterprises.

The committee has completed its initial analysis and made specific recommendations. These reports have been subsequently endorsed by the National Legislature and sent to the President for prompt actions.

Sen. Dagoseh said the Joint Public Account Committee has completed series of public hearings on the accounts of the three ministries and two state enterprises. The Liberian Constitution, mandates to provide oversight over the expenditure of all public sectors and public funded institutions.

The PAC wants to use the opportunity to announce to all those in positions of authority and trust, to know that the perception of corruption being business as usual will no longer be tolerated, and has vowed to do all that is necessary to end the corruption and impunity in government.