Ramsey N. Singbeh, Jr
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The Joint Public Account, Audit and Expenditure Committee (PAC) of the 55th National Legislature has successfully concluded a two-day retreat at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County.
The retreat, held recently, focused on validating the PAC consolidated report and setting the stage for the resumption of public hearings in 2025.
It brought together lawmakers, technical staff, and key institutional stakeholders including the General Auditing Commission (GAC) represented by its Deputy Auditor General, Winsley S. Nanka.
During the retreat, committee members engaged in rigorous activities, including the presentation and acceptance of the draft consolidated report, detailed discussions on audit findings, compliance issues, and the approval of upcoming public hearings.
Notably, the committee meticulously reviewed about 12 audit reports dating as far back as 2005 and 2006, demonstrating the historical depth of their oversight responsibilities.
Senator Gbezohngar Milton Findley of Grand Bassa County, a committee member, highlighted the scope of the audits under review: “There are 12 reports, there are some audit reports that we’ll be looking at compliance audit report that we’ll also be looking at.
It supposed to be about 312 and more audits that we’ll also be reviewing during this period that we have not had hearing. There are audit reports that date back all the way to 2006 and 2005, we’ll also be looking at some of those audits and coming up with a decision.”
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Committee and Margibi Electoral District #5 Representative, Clarence G. Gahr, emphasized the constitutional mandate vested in the committee.
“As provided by the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, this body has the sole authority to appropriate public funds and oversee their proper use,” Gahr stated.
He expressed gratitude to the legislative leadership for entrusting the committee with this critical responsibility.
Rep. Gahr elaborated that the retreat aligns with the committee’s core functions, particularly the review of audit reports.
He further emphasized that the retreat is in line with the General Auditing Commission Act of 2014, specifically Section 4 (2g) which mandates the Auditor General to submit audit reports to the Legislature which then conducts public hearings with committee members present to scrutinize the findings.
He further explained the process, noting that after public hearings conclude, witnesses are given a final opportunity to present evidence addressing the Auditor General’s queries.
Subsequently, the committee holds retreats like this one to deliberate on the reports, incorporate members’ inputs, and prepare the reports for plenary approval before forwarding them to the executive branch for implementation.
Rep. Gahr also highlighted provisions under the Public Financial Management (PFM) regulation, which empowers the committee to oversee the implementation of audit reports.
He said the regulation mandates the President to act on audit findings within 190 days and failure to comply allows the committee to convene and request their respective plenaries to recall the report and instruct the relevant authorities to ensure enforcement.
The Chairman acknowledged delays in holding the retreat and conducting timely validations, attributing them to the political impasse within the House of Representatives.
“The chaotic environment on the Capitol grounds and the unfortunate burning of the joint chamber used for hearings significantly hampered our ability to summon witnesses and proceed with hearings,” he explained.
Despite these setbacks, Gahr praised the dedication of committee members, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House, and the Senate Pro-Tempore for their unwavering support and confidence in the committee’s work.
Senator Amara Konneh, Co-chair of the committee and Gbarpolu County Senator, underscored the significance of the consolidated report, which encompasses all public hearings conducted in 2024.
He explained that the delay in finalizing the report was necessary to resolve the impasse in the House of Representatives.
“During the waiting period, the committee secretariat worked diligently to ensure that the report accurately reflects the testimonies and responses of auditees during the hearings,” Sen. Konneh said.
He emphasized the importance of validating the report page by page to maintain consistency and integrity.
Sen. Konneh added that following the validation, the joint committee will submit the consolidated report to their respective plenaries for approval.
He assured that this process would be expedited to ensure completion before the Legislature’s upcoming break.
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