Published: August 6, 2025
MONROVIA – The Liberian government has launched a sweeping personnel audit targeting all Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) employees nationwide, aiming to root out unqualified staff, eliminate ghost names, and clean up the public payroll.
The verification exercise, a joint effort by the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is set to kick off on August 18, 2025, and will be rolled out in phases across all 15 counties. Officials say it marks a major step in strengthening public sector performance and enforcing accountability in government hiring practices.
According to the CSA, the audit will thoroughly review personnel files, confirm credentials, and assess the qualifications of every ministry employee to ensure that only competent, verified professionals remain in service. The process also aims to support compliance monitoring, improve human resource management, and inform policy decisions.
At the commissioning ceremony in Monrovia, CSA Director-General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr. said the exercise was long overdue and essential for building a trustworthy and professional civil service.
“This exercise is not just about data collection; it’s about building a reliable and accountable civil service,” Dr. Joekai declared. “It also serves as a precursor to a broader, nationwide credential review and verification process for all Ministry of Internal Affairs employees.”
Dr. Joekai emphasized that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and results-driven service delivery.
Internal Affairs Minister Hon. Francis Sakila Nyumalin, who attended the launch, praised the CSA’s leadership and described the initiative as a milestone in public sector reform. He reaffirmed his ministry’s full support and technical collaboration.
“This is a significant step toward institutional strengthening,” Minister Nyumalin said. “It will drive workforce development and restore public confidence in our civil service.”
The exercise comes amid persistent public concerns over payroll fraud, including the presence of ghost employees and falsified academic credentials within the government workforce. The audit is expected to address these issues head-on, with a combination of document reviews and in-person interviews across the country.
Civil servants under the Ministry of Internal Affairs have been advised to cooperate fully with verification teams during the rollout period. The CSA said that local authorities will support the exercise in each county to ensure smooth implementation and comprehensive data gathering.
The agency noted that the findings from the audit will help inform future recruitment, performance assessments, and workforce planning, placing Liberia’s civil service on a more credible and sustainable path.
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