Severing as the complainant, prosecutor, judge and jury, the Liberian Senate has concluded probe into accusation of budget related crimes beclouding the 2024 appropriation process, clearing itself of all wrongdoings.
Senators Amara Konneh who chairs the Public Accounts Committee and Nathaniel F. McGill triggered the investigation when they alarmed that the 2024 national budget had been significantly altered following its passage by the legislature.
The senate’s select-committee that probed the matter did not indicate whether or not Konneh and McGill provided testimonies or evidence in relation to the accusation. The committee hover ever faulted then Acting Finance Minister who corrected misplaced budget items in accordance with acceptable classification.
Myers, according to the committee, had to realign the budget to address the misplacement of certain agencies, an action he acknowledged was beyond the ministry’s authority.
On accounts of deputy minister Anthony Myers undertaking, the report points the finger at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) for violating the budget law.
According to the committee’s report, the then-Acting Finance Minister Myers, admitted to unilaterally shifting funds between sectors and spending entities, affecting various ministries and agencies.
The report further revealed that changes were observed in the budget numbers after the printing of the budget book, though the overall budget envelope of $738,859,827 remained unchanged.
The committee’s investigation also uncovered internal budget shifting by the Joint Committee on Ways, Means, and Budget before the budget’s passage. This included increases to the Municipal Government Sector and the Security and Rule of Law Sector, which were not accurately reflected in the final budget book.
In response to these findings, the ad-hoc committee has made several recommendations to aid the smooth passage of future budgets.
These include ensuring that budget reports and documents are distributed to senators at least 48 hours before debate and passage, as well as requiring the Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget Committee to make a full presentation during budget debates.
The committee has also advised the MFDP to refrain from making any budget shifts after the budget’s passage, mandating that the ministry must seek legislative approval for any necessary changes.
