28 November 2008
Though the General Auditing Commission (GAC) has refuted reports regarding the existence of corruption within its corridors, especially with Auditor General John Morlu being at the center of fingers pointing, the organization alleging that this is the case has again dug into the heels of that agency and insists that malpractices exist at the GAC.
Continuing from where they stopped last week, the Movement for the Defense of the Downtrodden dragged the GAC in corruption web, claiming that the Auditor General, John Morlu is similarly not a clean person with respect to corruption, citing a Ministry of Finance memo as the basis of their whistle blowing.
Following the accusation against the GAC boss, the Commission came up with a counter action that boomeranged with the public considering that the accusing organization is an unserious surrogate organization hired by people linked to corruption in past audit reports released by the GAC.
In another move of continuing their advocacy, the group yesterday called a press conference to defend their previous accusation against the GAC of "corruption and financial malpractices at the commission."
In their latest claims, the Movement outlined alleged acts of malpractices, making particular reference to mishaps in the chain of operations among staffers at the commission, which they said demonstrates their point of the existence of corruption and malpractices, there.
According to the group, the procedure in place at the GAC requires the voucher format wherein the deputy auditor general signs all payments before they are carried out, but happenings at the commission are variant from this line of administration.
"Instead of operating according to status quo," the movement said, "However, this is not the case; the Auditor General, John Morlu, II has handpicked one Rev. John Morlu to act and usurp the functions and responsibilities of the deputy auditor general for administration.
In a statement read by the Executive Director, Alfred G. Togbah, the movement said the GAC boss is dealing with Rev. Russell because he has "vested interest" in him.
"The Auditor General, John S. Morlu, II has introduced a strange practice at the GAC. Check #00843743 was raised in the name of one Nathan Kpehe for services performed by an entity named Monrovia Automatic Transmission Service Center, One will then wonder why it is that this payment will be made to Mr. Morlu's confidant instead of the entity," the group wondered, and added, "Is this not a deliberate abuse and misapplication and or misallocation of the commission's funds? One wonders the rationale for diverting the funds."
Among other things, the movement also accused the GAC boss of operating in disregard to PPCC regulations, contracting a private firm to mark or code assets of the commission, without evidence that three quotations were obtained in keeping with law.
In its accusation, the group claimed that the GAC boss is allowing funds belonging to the commission to be used to "underwrite personal expenses of an individual," making reference to "a roaming account held at Comium in the name of one Gloria Valhum, said to be a resident of Congo Town., with payment made from the GAC account at ECOBANK in the tune of US$2,811.53 for two months (June & July 2008).
Apart from these claims, the movement told journalists at its SKD Boulevard office yesterday that Rev. Russell, classified as Mr. Morlu's proxy signatory, made a payment in the tune of US$75.00 to himself on check No. 00914886 as refund for car maintenance and purchase of parts.
With these and many other claims against the GAC boss, the movement has called for serious action to be taken against the GAC boss.
The movement called on the Liberian Government and the European Union, which employed Mr. Morlu to revoke his contract and cause him to submit himself to "an audit" to be conducted by internationally recognized auditing firm."
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 The Analyst. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Thanks for your effort to promoting check and balance in the Liberian financial system. The accusations put forward against the General Auditing Commission demand serious attention by the Government, specifically the National Bureau of Investigation. But I must differ with you on your call for Mr. Morlu to be investigated or audited by internationally accredited auditors. I think it is naive for Liberians to engage in discrediting local professionals for international professionals. International professionals are not regulated by Liberian ethical codes and as such may lack social responsibility for the Liberian people. If Morlu breaks or allegedly violates laws or ethical codes of his auditing responsibilities to the Liberian people, he should be called to account for it from Liberian professionals. But again I applaud you for unveiling such information and hope it is true.