MONROVIA — The Plenary of the House of Representatives has endorsed a report from a specialized committee confirming unauthorized alterations to Liberia’s 2024 national budget. However, the decision to halt further budgetary reviews and the absence of penalties for those involved have left critical questions unanswered regarding who is responsible for the tampering.
The investigation was initiated after Hon. Clarence Garh of Margibi County raised concerns about discrepancies in the budget. Despite the findings, the House has opted not to take immediate action against those implicated, a move that some lawmakers and public commentators say leaves the issue unresolved.
On August 17, 2024, Speaker J. Fonati Koffa of the House of Representatives constituted a specialized committee to probe the allegations of budget tampering. The investigation was triggered by Hon. Garh’s concerns, particularly regarding changes in oversight responsibilities and appropriations across several sectors.
The committee’s investigation revealed that the motion passed by the plenary to have budget performance reports submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had been altered. Instead, the reports were redirected to the Legislative Budget Office (LBO) without plenary approval.
In addition to the oversight changes, the committee found that the budget document was improperly recalled from the Executive by the Deputy Chief Clerk on May 7, 2024, following a request from the Senate’s Secretary. This recall was deemed “unorthodox” and not in accordance with legislative procedures. The original budget document was subsequently lost, with only a copy available for review.
On September 3, 2024, the Plenary of the House of Representatives unanimously endorsed the committee’s report. However, The Liberian Investigator gathered that disciplinary actions were recommended in during executive session, but that was differed by the majority. Sources familiar with the investigation told The Liberian Investigator that the House’s quest to institute disciplinary action was aslo hindered by the fact the House lacks jurisdiction over the Senate where the alteration originated from.
Notably absent from the deliberations was the Chairman of the Specialized Committee, Rep. Robert Wongbe. His absence raised further questions about the transparency and seriousness of the proceedings. Meanwhile, Speaker Koffa, who had earlier put the budget review on hold pending the investigation, has decided not to pursue further reviews until the issue is fully addressed.
“The report confirms the budget was altered without proper authorization, yet the matter of who is responsible remains open,” said Rep. James Kolleh of Bong County, expressing his frustration during the session.
The decision to leave the matter unresolved and the lack of immediate penalties have left many questioning the effectiveness of the investigation. “The public will feel every one of us here in this House is corrupt; why can’t we know who altered the budget?” lamented Rep. Thomas Goshua of Grand Bassa County District 5, echoing the sentiments of many who felt the issue was not adequately addressed.
The report detailed several key findings, including the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning’s admission of realigning and reclassifying sectoral appropriations. These changes were made without proper legislative approval, contributing to the discrepancies identified during the investigation.
However, the Plenary’s decision not to impose any disciplinary measures or seek further clarity on the missing original budget document has been met with skepticism. “The endorsement of the report without any penalties sends the wrong message about accountability within our legislative process,” said a political analyst in Monrovia.
With the matter still unresolved, attention now shifts to what actions, if any, will be taken by the House leadership. The committee recommended that the Chief Clerk’s Office revise its procedures for transmitting laws to the Executive to prevent similar issues in the future. However, without clear accountability, there are concerns that such procedural changes may not be enough to restore public trust.
The House’s decision to endorse the report without further consequences has left the door open for continued scrutiny and potential calls for more comprehensive reforms in how Liberia’s budgetary process is managed. As the issue lingers, it remains to be seen whether the House will take additional steps to address the unanswered questions surrounding the budget alterations.
In the meantime, the Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance is set to commence the review of the 2024 Recast Budget, following Speaker Koffa’s halt to any revisions of the original budget pending the investigation. The identity of those responsible for tampering with the 2024 national budget remains a mystery, leaving many to wonder if the full truth will ever come to light.
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