Monrovia, Liberia – Bong County District 1 Consultant Prince Ok. Koinah has reaffirmed his name for transparency and accountability within the Liberian Legislature by saying progress towards a long-awaited complete audit of the Home of Representatives’ monetary and administrative operations.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
Addressing legislative reporters on Capitol Hill, Rep. Koinah disclosed that the Home’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which he co-chairs, has formally notified the Common Auditing Fee (GAC) to provoke the audit course of. He confirmed that formal correspondence has already been despatched to the GAC, signaling the Home’s willingness to bear scrutiny.
“As I communicate, a letter was drafted and addressed to the GAC. So we await the presence of GAC to return in order that we are able to begin our preliminary interview to rearrange time and date for the audit,” Rep. Koinah acknowledged. “For the audit, we aren’t taking it evenly. It’s about taking the darkish cloud off the Legislature.”
The audit, if approved by the complete Plenary, is anticipated to cowl each the 54th and fifty fifth Legislatures—spanning from July 1, 2021, via Could 31, 2025. In keeping with Rep. Koinah, the target is to find out whether or not the Home’s monetary practices and administrative operations have adhered to related legal guidelines and procedures. The overview may even assess inside controls, threat administration, and governance effectiveness.
Rep. Koinah has constantly advocated for higher transparency inside authorities establishments. In a proper communication to the Home earlier this 12 months, he highlighted the shortage of current audits of the Legislature as a matter of public concern.
“To the perfect of my information, the operations of this Honorable Home haven’t been audited lately,” he wrote. “This case can’t proceed unchecked, as we’re custodians of the individuals’s belief. We should lead by instance if we want to uphold the belief and confidence of the constituents we characterize.”
He additional emphasised that the audit would function a essential step towards restoring credibility to the Legislature amid rising public considerations over the misuse of public funds.
“I imagine that auditing this Honorable Home will dispel any destructive perceptions or misconceptions individuals could maintain about us, thereby restoring credibility to this august physique,” he added.
In keeping with procedural tips, the GAC could be given 90 days to finish the audit as soon as formally commissioned by Plenary.
In a separate matter in the course of the thirteenth day sitting of the second session of the fifty fifth Legislature, Rep. Koinah additionally drew consideration to the harmful situation of the St. John River Bridge — a essential infrastructure that connects Bong County Electoral District 1 to Grand Bassa County Electoral District 4.
In his communication to Plenary, Koinah described the bridge’s deteriorating state as a severe risk to public security and commerce. He referred to as on the Home of Representatives to summon key infrastructure stakeholders to account for the neglect of the bridge.
“My distinguished colleagues, the bridge I’m discussing connects Bong County Electoral District 1, which I characterize, and Grand Bassa County Electoral District 4, represented by my esteemed colleague, Hon. Alfred H. Flomo,” he mentioned. “This bridge, which is important for commerce and different actions for the individuals in two counties, is in a horrible situation – in a dreadful form that it’s now not protected for our individuals to make use of.”
He reported that the bridge’s situation has already led to lack of life, and that with out quick intervention, extra lives could possibly be endangered.
“Given the foregoing, and because the individuals’s consultant, I ask for the indulgence of this Honorable Plenary to ask the Minister of Public Works and the Director of the Bureau of Concessions to elucidate to this physique why this important bridge has not been attended to,” he urged.
In keeping with Koinah, the Ministry of Public Works is chargeable for highway and bridge upkeep throughout Liberia, whereas the Bureau of Concessions oversees infrastructure commitments inside concession agreements. He famous that accountability is required on each fronts.
Following deliberations, the Home forwarded Koinah’s communication to the Committees on Public Works; Funding and Concessions; Methods, Means, and Finance; and Inside Affairs. The committees have been tasked with reviewing the matter and reporting again to Plenary inside two weeks.
Rep. Koinah’s twin advocacy—pushing for a legislative audit and calling pressing consideration to decaying infrastructure—has drawn reward from transparency advocates and residents alike, who view his efforts as important to rebuilding public belief in governance.
