More heads to roll at MoFA

More heads are expected to roll at the Ministry of Foreign as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ordered an audit and a full scale investigation into the Japanese funded projects. Already a deputy minister at the ministry has been sacked and forwarded to the ministry of justice for his alleged role in the financial impropriety associated with the projects.

The order came following a receipt of preliminary reports by the Ministry of Justice on the slow pace of implementation of the Japanese funded projects amidst allegations of financial improprieties in seven of the social and economic development projects.

The allegations of financial improprieties which was first raised by Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan has pushed Mrs. Sirleaf to instruct the Ministry of Justice and the General Audit Commission to conduct a full scale investigation and audit of all the seven projects.

In a statement issued by the Executive Mansion on Sunday, September 7, it said the projects include, the Institutional and Human Resource Support Project under the department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the construction of three bridges in Grand Cape Mount County managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs; the construction of five storage facilities and the Paddy and Seed Rice Project, Phase two managed by the Ministry of Agriculture; and the LIFE and Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Projects managed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

It says the GAC has been mandated to conduct a speedy and comprehensive audit of the projects finances, at the same time, the Ministry of Justice will continue its investigations into the implementation of the projects, in close collaboration with the GAC and relevant institutions with the view to identifying and subsequently prosecuting those who may be culpable for any improprieties.

President Sirleaf the actions were intended to prevent impunity, protect the integrity of the projects, induce transparency and accountability in their implementation, and to ensure that the developmental objectives contemplated under these projects are achieved.

-Edited by Othello B. Garblah