By Varney Dukuly
MONROVIA: The State-owned General Auditing Commission (GAC) has published an audit report on the Executive Protection Service (EPS), revealing significant non-compliance and violations of the country’s financial laws, resulting in millions of dollars in losses to the state. The EPS is aN elite State Security that falls under the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs.
The report, which covers the period from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2023, is based on the General Auditing Commission Act of 2014 and aligns with the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act and Regulations of 2009, as amended and restated in 2019.
“Management made payments for goods and services, amounting to US$24,749,002.00 and L$621,949,854.95 without adequate supporting documents,” the report states.
At the moment, the exchange rate between the United States dollar and the Liberian dollar stands at LD195 to US$1.
Thus, the combined US and Liberia dollars amounted to approximately US$30 million which was allegedly swindled.
When questioned by GAC auditors, EPS officers failed to provide receipts, payment vouchers, copies of checks, cash invoices, delivery notes, or other relevant documents to substantiate the transactions.
The report further revealed that payments were made in the names of employees instead of vendors, service providers, direct beneficiaries, or legally authorized representatives.
Notably, expenditures for Special Operation Services and Intelligence Services, amounting to US$15,709,952.00, lacked evidence of field activity reports required by national security and financial regulations.
The GAC traced funding from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), through the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) without adequate supporting documentations.
The audit found that the EPS, under the management of its then Director, Trokon Roberts, received transfers, totaling US$3,800,000.00 and LD$172,785,500.00.
Additionally, the management expended US$12, 177, 865.76 over the approved budget without an approved recast budget.
The General Auditing Commission indicated that EPS management did not provide detailed ledgers for expenditures, amounting to US$64, 461, 625.71 for the fiscal years 2018/2019 to 2023.
Auditor General, P. Garswa Jackson, highlighted the lack of “Quarterly Budget Performance Reports” and monthly bank reconciliations for accounts maintained at the CBL and other commercial banks.
AG Jackson urged the House of Representatives and the Senate to implement the recommendations in the audit report.
Responding to the audit, the former EPS management acknowledged the importance of proper financial records but noted the “sensitive nature” of their operations as a reason for the lack of traditional supporting documents.
They stated that payments made in employees’ names were in accordance with protocols to protect the identities of vendors, service providers, and beneficiaries.
The audit follows public pressure on the new administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to ensure accountability and transparency by auditing the immediate previous political administration of the country.
The audit report has sparked significant concerns among Liberians and calls for financial and legal reforms within central government’s administrative and security related institutions.
