Liberian President Joseph Boakai has taken a significant step in fulfilling his promise to address corruption by commissioning an audit of three crucial government institutions, including the central bank, according to a statement from the presidency on Thursday.
Elected in November after defeating predecessor George Weah, Boakai centred his campaign on the pledge to combat corruption and enhance living standards in the West African nation. The anti-corruption initiative also encompasses an audit of the previous government.
The presidency's statement disclosed that Boakai directed Liberia's General Auditing Commission to conduct an audit of the central bank, the national security agency, and the executive protection service. The audit will scrutinize the period from 2018 to 2023, with the commission mandated to present its findings within three months.
Described as “the beginning of a holistic audit of government ministries and agencies,” this move aligns with Boakai's commitment to battling corruption and ensuring transparency, as highlighted in the statement.
Notably, the central bank has yet to respond to the request for comment on the audit. In a related development in August 2022, Weah suspended three government officials who faced sanctions from the United States due to their alleged ongoing involvement in public corruption.
