President Boakai Opens AFROSAI-E 22nd Governing Board Meeting in Monrovia, Calls It a Milestone for Liberia’s Accountability Drive
Addressing Auditors General and delegates from 26 member states, President Boakai described Liberia’s hosting of the conference as a strong reflection of the Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and institutional reform. The President commended the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and Auditor General P. Garswa Jackson, Sr. for securing the hosting rights for Liberia, calling it a vote of confidence in the country’s reform agenda.
The President noted that the conference convenes at a critical moment as member states review progress under AFROSAI-E’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan and deliberate on ways to deepen institutional cooperation across the region. He expressed confidence that the engagements in Monrovia would yield meaningful resolutions aimed at strengthening regional audit cooperation, enhancing peer support, reinforcing the independence of Supreme Audit Institutions, and improving oversight of public resources in support of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Placing the event in Liberia’s post-war context, President Boakai recalled that weak institutions and lack of accountability contributed to the nation’s past instability. He emphasized that the establishment of integrity institutions, including the General Auditing Commission following the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement was a deliberate step to confront corruption and deficit in transparency.
The Liberian Leader noted that the administration has responded to repeated calls to tackle corruption by taking actions to strengthen accountability and restore public confidence in governance. These measures include the introduction of performance management systems across government institutions, support for the operational independence of integrity institutions, and actions to address corruption and financial misconduct.
The President noted that Liberia has conducted inaugural audits of the Presidency, the Judiciary, the Legislature, and the Central Bank of Liberia. He also referenced the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Asset Recovery Taskforce, and advanced processes toward the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court. Additionally, he stated that the Government has enforced compliance with asset declaration requirements for public officials, with proceeds from related penalties being redirected toward the purchase of school chairs for students. For the first time in recent years, the General Auditing Commission received full budgetary appropriations in Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025. “An unprecedented development in our country’s recent history,”He said. Further, the President noted that the Government operationalized the financial independence provisions of the GAC Act of 2014 through the early disbursement of 50 percent of the institution’s approved budget.
The President furthered, “We have also demonstrated zero tolerance for misuse of public resources by dismissing and suspending government officials implicated in acts of misappropriation and financial misconduct.”
The Liberian Chief Executive urged delegates to use the Monrovia meeting not only as a platform for technical engagement, but also as an opportunity to strengthen solidarity among African oversight institutions. He stressed that Africa’s abundant natural resources and youthful population can only serve as drivers of sustainable development if they are managed transparently, responsibly, and efficiently. Strong and independent audit institutions, he said, remain essential to promoting investor confidence, social stability, and inclusive development across the continent.
President Boakai concluded by welcoming delegates to Liberia and officially declaring the 22nd Governing Board Meeting of AFROSAI-E open.
For his part, Auditor General P. Garswa Jackson, Sr. outlined the programme for the 22nd Governing Board Meeting and 2026 Strategic Review, noting that the five-day event will include a two-day closed session of the Governing Board following virtual subcommittee meetings to finalize key documents. He said the conference is focused on reviewing progress under AFROSAI-E’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, strengthening cooperation among member Supreme Audit Institutions, and adopting resolutions to enhance regional audit collaboration, reinforce institutional independence, and improve oversight of public resources. He added that the Strategic Review sessions, which opened today, May 20, 2026, will conclude with a cultural excursion hosted by the General Auditing Commission on May 22, 2026.
The African Organization of English-Speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E) is a regional body comprising 26 Supreme Audit Institutions across English-speaking Africa. The organization works to strengthen the institutional capacity and independence of member institutions through professional development, peer learning, and regional cooperation, with the overarching goal of improving public financial management and delivering value to citizens.
