A local civil society organization, Citizens Movement to Protect Foreign Investors, has clarified that although an audit is underway at the Ministry of Labor, the General Auditing Commission (GAC) has not established anything like “fraud, abuse and corruption.”
The group said, it was responding to some recently published newspaper headlines. So far, no paper has reported about the establishment of “fraud, abuse and corruption” at the Ministry since the audit process began and still on course.
According to the civil society group, it was unthinkable for anyone to believe that there is an expressed opinion, while the audit is ongoing.
In a statement issued recently, the group noted that although GAC has begun the process of auditing, the much-publicized system audit has not been concluded, adding: “At the end process, the Minister and his team will be clear of wrongdoing.”
The Chairman of the group, James Flomo, is quoted as saying: “Politicizing” of the ongoing audit, could greatly undermine the integrity of the process.
Flomo said, the primary purpose of an audit on any institutions, is to provide an independent, and objective opinion following examination of an organization’s financial, and other documents to identify weaknesses and make recommendation for remedy.
“The audit at the Ministry of Labor does not mean the Minister or the Ministry is corrupt, or is involved in corruption, the group chairman added.
The audit authorized by the Senate through its Public Account Committee, has reportedly been accelerated in the last few weeks.
Strangely, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts and Audit (PAC), Amara Konneh, has requested the GAC to prioritize a compliance and systemic review in the ongoing audit at the Ministry.
In his request, Konneh, who represents Gbarpolu County in the 55th Legislature, said the committee’s request was prompted by a concern raised by Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon.
Dillon had earlier called for an audit into the issuance and management of work permits for foreign nationals by the Ministry of Labor.
Following deliberations, the Plenary of the Senate turned the matter to its Public Account Committee with specific instruction, to formally engage the GAC to ensure that the audit adequately addresses the scope and concerns raised.
The chair on the Committee recalled that Liberia’s Labor Law provides clear safeguards to protect the rights and economic participation of Liberians in the national labor market; adding that strengthening compliance systems within the work permit regime, was crucial to ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Sen. Konneh: “The committee is aware that the GAC is currently conducting an audit of the Ministry of Labor. In this context, we respectfully request that the audit prioritizes the compliance and systemic control dimensions of the issuance of work permits.
Specifically, we ask for a comprehensive review of the administrative, legal, and operational processes governing the issuance, renewal, and revocation of work permits for aliens.”
He urged the GAC to identify system vulnerabilities, procedural flaws, and operational irregularities by reviewing the end-to-end process of issuing, renewing, and revoking work permits.
Konneh also underscored the need to examine internal control gaps, data integrity issues, and potential avenues for fraud, abuse, or corruption, urging that said audit should include a review of enforcement mechanisms, including penalties, waivers, discretionary exceptions, and gratis issuances.