MONROVIA: Gbarpolu County Senator, Amara Mohammed Konneh, has revealed that some members of the 54th Legislature privately expressed concern over undisclosed financial transactions, as showcased in a compliance audit report on the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) recently released by the State-owned General Auditing Commission (GAC).
According to the Gbarpolu Senator, who is also former Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the Auditor General’s report uncovered that approximately US$178 million has been withdrawn through checks written in individuals’ names, raising serious transparency issues.
In a recent address, Senator Konneh stressed that this sum of money could have funded vital infrastructure projects, such as paving 178 kilometers of roads in the country.
In response to these issues, Konneh called for a full audit of the Legislature to restore trust and accountability.
He cautioned the leadership of the 55th Legislature including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa; and the President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence, to lead with a different approach.
Senator Konneh, in his address, emphasized the importance of strong leadership, effective management, and an unwavering commitment to reform within the Liberian Legislature.
He stressed the need for enhanced budget analysis and financial management capacity within the National Legislature.
The outspoken lawmaker suggested the establishment of a respected legislative budget office, which, according to him, could significantly improve the budget approval process, monitoring and evaluation of budget execution.
While calling for what he characterizes as “a cultural shift towards transparency and accountability,” the Gbarpolu Senator maintains that the current path, which has remained unchanged for 177 years, has failed to bring about meaningful development and governance in the Liberian Nation.
He urged his legislative colleagues to listen to these concerns, emphasizing that their actions today will shape the future for generations to come.
“We will keep flagging significant governance issues until our colleagues hear us,” Konneh vowed, underscoring his commitment to advocating for accountability, transparency, and good governance within the Liberian Legislature.
He accentuated the critical need for new lawmakers to embrace a comprehensive audit of the 54th Legislature, citing “alarming patterns in legislative spending.”
Senator Konneh: “A graph sourced from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) reveals that the 54th Legislature expended approximately US$ 300 million over the last six years, with a concerning trend of off-budget spending, particularly between FY2022 and FY2023, where there was a 45.45% increase.
He explained that while the approved budgets—represented by long blue bars in the graph—indicated the agreed financial plans, the yellow zig-zag line illustrated additional spending beyond these budgets.
“Such practices”, he noted, “demand close scrutiny, especially in an election year like 2023, where the Legislature’s expenditure grew by an average of 16.23%, a troubling figure for what he described as a “low-performing” body.
Despite these substantial expenditures, the Capitol Building continues to face serious issues, including leaks, flooding, and general infrastructure decay, he disclosed.
The poor condition of the ‘Capitol Building,’ along with low staff salaries, inadequate office spaces, and non-functional facilities, reflects a failure to prioritize necessary investments in the Legislature,” as an institution.
Furthermore, the Senator highlighted the problem of nepotism within the Legislature, which he said, “has become a significant source of employment for family members, exacerbating the frustration felt by many who see the institution as resistant to positive change.”
He maintains that this resistance perpetuates a cycle of repeat.
