Audit Gains Hit 37 Percent ….GAC Boss Discloses At AFROSAI-E

P. Garswa Jackson Sr. has announced a sharp rise in audit implementation across government institutions, revealing that compliance with audit recommendations increased from 13 percent in 2024 to 37 percent in 2025, marking what he described as a significant breakthrough in Liberia’s public accountability system.

The announcement was made Wednesday at the opening of the 2026 Strategic Review Meeting of the African Organisation of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.

The high-level gathering brought together audit leaders, government officials, diplomats, and development partners from across Africa to assess progress in public sector auditing and governance reforms.

According to Auditor General Jackson, the improved audit implementation rate reflects strengthened internal controls and growing compliance with national financial regulations and laws.

He further disclosed that recent audits conducted by the General Auditing Commission uncovered discrepancies and irregularities in several public institutions, highlighting ongoing weaknesses in public financial management.

Jackson noted that despite these challenges, the Commission’s oversight role has become more effective due to reforms aimed at strengthening institutional independence and operational capacity.

He said Liberia’s Supreme Audit Institution received high performance ratings from the World Bank in 2024, a development he described as a major endorsement of ongoing reforms.

The Auditor General added that Liberia was selected among six countries globally to participate in a World Bank-supported initiative focused on strengthening the independence of supreme audit institutions.

Jackson credited the operationalization of the 2014 General Auditing Commission Act for improving institutional autonomy and accountability mechanisms.

He specifically highlighted the release of 50 percent of the Commission’s annual budget as a key factor enhancing its ability to conduct independent audits.

The AFROSAI-E Strategic Review Meeting was officially opened in Monrovia with participation from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, senior government officials, and international partners.

Delivering the keynote regional address, Nancy Gathungu commended Liberia for hosting the summit and praised President Boakai’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

She described Liberia as a symbol of resilience and institutional reform, noting its historical struggles and ongoing efforts to strengthen governance systems.

Gathungu warned that African countries are facing rising fiscal pressures, debt challenges, economic shocks, and increasing public demands, making the role of audit institutions more critical than ever.

She referenced the 2025 United Nations World Public Sector Report, which underscores the importance of audit bodies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

According to her, Supreme Audit Institutions play a key role in strengthening public financial management, improving governance, and ensuring equitable service delivery.

The AFROSAI-E Chairperson emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in addressing emerging challenges such as public debt, infrastructure financing, climate pressures, and digital transformation.

She also highlighted a growing shift toward citizen-focused audits aimed at addressing issues that directly affect public trust and service delivery.

A major focus of the summit was digital transformation in auditing, with Gathungu warning that audit institutions must modernize to keep pace with rapidly evolving government digital systems.

She said AFROSAI-E has introduced advanced tools such as Audit Software for Audit Engagements and Training (A-SEAT) to enhance data-driven auditing and risk detection.

On public debt, she raised concern over worsening debt conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa, noting that countries at high risk or in distress have increased significantly over the past decade.

Gathungu stressed that audit institutions must strengthen oversight of public borrowing and fiscal transparency to safeguard economic stability.

She also announced that AFROSAI-E recently received the Kimi Makwetu Prize from the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions in recognition of its contribution to accountability reforms across Africa.

Delegates at the Monrovia meeting are expected to deliberate on audit reform strategies, digital governance, debt oversight, and regional cooperation frameworks.

The summit has placed Liberia at the center of continental discussions on transparency and accountability, reinforcing the country’s growing international profile in governance reform.