Overing Reports suggesting that Liberia’s 2024 fiscal budget felled to the blades and knifes of unknown individuals have also claimed the attention of the religious community, specifically the former leader of the Liberia Council of Churches.
Bishop Kortu K. Brown, who has been reacting to this “embarrassing national event” is Pastor of the New Water in the Desert Assembly, Former President, Interreligious Council of Liberia, President, Liberia Council of Churches and Bishop of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church International.
In a press statement, Bishop Brown asserted that the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Liberia “has shocked the people of Liberia with revelations that the 2024 approved national budget was altered without the knowledge of the general body which passed the budget”.
“This is a grave allegation,” the Liberian prelate said, recalling that on Tuesday, September 4th, the Plenary of the House of Representatives endorsed a report from a specialized committee confirming unauthorized alterations to Liberia’s 2024 national budget which has raised eyebrows in every corner of the country.
“It was astonishing to have learned of House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa constituting a specialized committee to probe the allegations of budget tampering on August 17, 2024,” he noted.
“Why will the lawmakers approve a budget, set it in motion for execution and begin changing figures in the so-called national envelope without a formal review process mandated by the body?” the former LCC boss said, adding: “It speaks negatively of the country and its people. If this is true, then it’s like a daylight robbery.”
Reflecting further on the matter, Bishop Brown said, the House of Representatives initiated investigation into allegations of budget tampering started when a member of that body, Margibi County Representative Clarence Garh raised some concerns.
“We commend him for this action to help promote accountability in our national accountancy,” he said, indicating however that “we must go behind just ‘investigating’ this issue. We must get to the roots of it.”
Taking the people for granted
Bishop Brown asserted that there are concerns in many quarters as to what will come out of this embarrassing development.
“Unfortunately, the House made a decision to halt any further budgetary reviews but didn’t point to the lawmakers or people who altered the budget and/or recommend any penalties for such people who might be found guilty of such fiscal indiscipline and devilish acts. Liberians deserve to know who tampered with the 2024 budget and for what reasons?
“It is being reported in the media that the special committee’s investigation revealed that the motion passed by the plenary to have budget performance reports submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had been altered. Who altered it? If the Legislature doesn’t properly investigate this unfortunate report and make people to account for their actions, it might just take away from ordinary Liberians whatever little confidence there’s left of the Legislature.”
Call for Probe
The Liberia cleric has meanwhile recommended that the Legislature set-up a joint committee of the houses of representatives and senate to thoroughly investigate this saga, establish the facts and take corrective measures to guide against future occurrence
He also believes President Boakai should be concerned about this because it erodes public confidence in the government.
“It makes the government look like a “play, play government”. This is bad for him because it could make it difficult for ordinary people to believe what the government says and to accompany it,” he said. “That’s what made the initial fight against Ebola difficult in 2014. There was a trust deficit. The people didn’t believe the government.”
“The same kind of scenario was observed for former President Charles Taylor when ex-LURD attacked the northern borders in 1999/2000. People didn’t believe the government’s story provoking the president to threaten to take journalists by force to Lofa to see the fighting for themselves,” Bishop Brown further emphasized.
“There are already too many problems lingering in the country. From the yellow machines saga to buses from Ghana to the huge salaries for SOEs amid poverty, lack of money for people to send their children to school, and to the bread and better issues, amongst others,” he warned. “The people who altered the 2024 national budget must be held to account”.
Magnificent beat I would like to apprentice while you amend your site how can i subscribe for a blog web site The account helped me a acceptable deal I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea