EBOLA MONEY IS HOT TO EAT …LACC Groans for Accountability …As Lofa Senator Demands Audit While the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) embarks on a program to monitor and make sure that adequate internal controls and systems are instituted in the administration of Ebola money and other resources, Lofa County Senator George Tengbeh is equally demanding that the Legislature commission its Public Account Committee to conduct an audit aimed at account for the initial five million United States dollars approved by the Legislature to fight the deadly Ebola virus. Interestingly however, the LACC announces an investigation into misconduct on the part of some legislators and others entrusted with resources intended for the anti-Ebola drive in the country. According to a dispatch, the LACC said its stance is an effort to ensure transparency, accountability and integrity in the management of Ebola resources, a reason for which the Commission has embarked on a monitoring program that would make sure that adequate internal controls and systems are instituted in the administration of said resources. The LACC, the dispatch indicated, has therefore requested the National Ebola Task Force to furnish the list of all monetary contributions and payments made to the National Ebola Trust Fund, along with information of all other related resources. Additionally, the Commission has entreated the National Ebola Task Force to provide a full list of all administrators of Ebola resources. LACC Investigates lawmakers In the meantime, the LACC has also informs the public that it is investigating alleged acts of impropriety involving some members of the National Legislature and a Consultant regarding a contract to review the Petroleum Law of Liberia. The Commission hereby assures the public that the investigation will be conducted with the utmost degree of professionalism. Accordingly, the LACC said it will appropriately inform the public about the outcome of this investigation. Audit for US$5m In a related development, Lofa County Senator George Tengbeh is demanding an audit to be conducted to account for the initial five million United States dollars approved by the Legislature to fight the deadly Ebola virus. The Lofa County lawmaker is of the opinion that there is no responsibility without accountability, noting that although amount has being expended and report has been made it contingent upon the Legislature to commission an audit to verify expenditures alluded to in the reports regarding the use of the money. The audit, Senator Tengbeh, indicated, will to prove a high level of responsibility on the part of government and will induce a high level of accountability to the taxpayers. When the Ebola virus intensified its deadly battle against Liberians in late July of this year, the Liberian Legislature approved US$5 million for the Executive Branch of the Government to use in fighting the virus. The amount was disbursed to the National Ebola Taskforce headed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as a sign of government’s commitment to fight Ebola out of Liberia In an interviewed with reporters at the Capitol Building after submitting a communication to Senate Plenary seeking that body’s approval of an audit to account for the use of the US$5 million, the senator noted that a successful audit is a sign of government upholding the principles of responsibility and accountability. Lofa County Senator Tengbeh said if the Executive Branch of the government must demonstrate the spirit of a regime of responsibility and accountability, the Senate should ensure that the money given to the Special Ebola Taskforce for the fight against the Ebola virus is accounted for. To his understanding, this level of responsibility and accountability cannot be achieved without an audit into the use of the amount. The amount disbursed to the Executive must be accounted for and that could only be done or achieve through an audit with the Liberian senate Public Account Committee playing a major role in the process, he said. According to him, the Senate Plenary should mandate the Public Account Committee to invite all of those government agencies and ministries that have received monies from the Ebola Taskforce in the name of fighting the Ebola virus in the country so as to prove to Liberians and the international community that the government is more responsible and accountable to its people and donors. Senator Tengabeh further indicated that one of the mean reasons for which he’s calling for audit in the Ebola US$5 million dished out for the national drive against Ebola is to straighten the spirit of coordination and oversight responsibility of the national legislature and that of the Executive Branch of Government. The money received and expended by the government, Sen. George Tengbeh said, has to be account for because it came from the people of Liberia, the business community in the country and international partners to assist the Liberians in fighting the Ebola virus out of Liberia, he emphasized. He concluded that until audit is conducted, the Liberian government will not demonstrate the role of a government that focus on being more responsible and accountable to the people and its partners.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:19:51 +0000
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