Remarks by His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. President of the Republic of Liberia

Mr. Speaker of the House of Representatives;

Madam President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

The Minister of Finance and Development Planning;

Officials of Government;

Madam Nancy Gathungu, Chair of AFROSAI - E and Auditor General of Kenya;

Distinguished Auditor Generals of AFROSAI-E and Delegates;

Madam Christina Hagberg, Auditor General of Sweden;

Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Development Partners;

Civil Society and Members of the Press;

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is with great pleasure and honor that I warmly welcome you to Liberia for the 22nd Governing Board Meeting and the 2026 Strategic Review Program of the African Organization of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E).

On behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, I extend greetings to the distinguished delegates from the 26 member states represented here today. Your presence in Monrovia underscores our commitment to accountability, transparency, and good governance across the continent.

I wish to particularly commend the General Auditing Commission of Liberia, under the leadership of Auditor General Honorable P. Garswa Jackson, Sr., for successfully bringing this prestigious gathering to Liberia for the first time since the establishment of AFROSAI-E. This is a proud moment for our country and a strong vote of confidence in Liberia's growing commitment to public-sector accountability and institutional reform. I would also like to thank him personally for his excellent stewardship at the General Auditing Commission.

AFROSAI-E remains one of Africa's most important regional accountability platforms. Since its founding, the organization has played a critical role in strengthening the institutional capacity and independence of Supreme Audit Institutions throughout English-speaking Africa.

Through peer learning, professional development, and regional cooperation, AFROSAI-E continues to advance auditing standards and improve public financial management for the benefit of African people.

This year's conference is particularly significant because it offers an opportunity to review progress under the 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, deepen institutional cooperation, and renew commitments to transparency and accountability. Over the next several days, distinguished Auditors General and experts will deliberate on key audit-related issues during the Governing Board Meeting and Strategic Review sessions held here in Monrovia.

We are confident that these engagements will lead to meaningful resolutions that strengthen regional audit cooperation, enhance peer support mechanisms, reinforce the independence of Supreme Audit Institutions, improve oversight of public resources, and contribute to the broader aspirations of the African Union Agenda 2063.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Liberia's hosting of this conference holds special historical and national significance. It has long been said that Liberia's crisis was fundamentally a crisis of governance. Years of weak institutions, lack of accountability, abuse of public trust, and poor stewardship of national resources contributed significantly to instability and conflict in our country.

As part of the overall strategy to bring sustainable peace to Liberia after years of civil conflict, the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement established several critical institutions to address some of the root causes of the conflict - including corruption, weak governance, lack of transparency, and deficits in accountability and integrity.

Among these institutions were the National Elections Commission, the Contracts and Monopolies Commission (now the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission), the Governance Commission, the Independent National Human Rights Commission, and the now-defunct Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Although not explicitly mentioned in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the establishment of the General Auditing Commission two years later as a separate and independent institution was very much in keeping with the spirit and intent of that vision. It reflected a growing recognition that strong oversight institutions are indispensable for maintaining peace, safeguarding democracy, and ensuring responsible stewardship of public resources.

Throughout my presidential campaign, Liberians repeatedly urged us to address corruption, and since assuming office, they have continued to urge our Administration to address issues of accountability and public-sector performance. The Liberian people rightly expect their leaders to manage public resources honestly and effectively and to ensure that the Government serves the people's interests.

For this reason and more, I have consistently reminded public officials that they were not appointed to be served but to serve. They were appointed to deliver results and improve the lives of the Liberian people. They must therefore demonstrate stewardship, responsibility, and integrity in managing the resources entrusted to them.

This commitment to performance and accountability is why our Administration has introduced performance management systems across government institutions to ensure measurable delivery, efficiency, and greater responsiveness to the needs of our citizens.

Today, Liberia continues to advance that vision through deliberate reforms to promote integrity, accountability, and public trust in government.

Under our Administration, we have undertaken several important measures to strengthen transparency institutions and combat corruption.

These include the inaugural audits conducted by the General Auditing Commission of the Office of the President, the Judiciary, the Legislature, and the Central Bank of Liberia - a major step toward ensuring that all public institutions remain subject to scrutiny and accountability.

We have also established and implemented additional anti-corruption mechanisms, including the Office of the Ombudsman, the Asset Recovery Taskforce, and the process to establish a War and Economic Crimes Court.

In furtherance of our commitment to integrity in public service, we have enforced asset-declaration requirements for all presidential appointees, including suspensions and fines for noncompliant officials. By the way money collected from these fines was used to buy school chairs for students. We have also respected and protected the tenures of heads of transparency and accountability institutions who have demonstrated political neutrality and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

My Administration has also prioritized direct institutional support for integrity institutions.

Notably, the General Auditing Commission received full budgetary allocations in Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 - an unprecedented development in our country's recent history. Additionally, consistent with the provisions of the GAC Act of 2014, we operationalized the Commission's financial independence by disbursing 50% of its approved annual budget immediately after the national budget was passed.

We have also demonstrated zero tolerance for the misuse of public resources by dismissing and suspending government officials implicated in acts of misappropriation and financial misconduct.

Distinguished Delegates,

Liberia, like many African nations, is not poor. Africa is richly endowed with abundant natural resources, fertile soils, vast mineral wealth, and, most importantly, a dynamic and youthful population with enormous potential.

Across much of our continent, nearly 60% of the population is under age 28. This demographic dividend offers tremendous opportunities for innovation, productivity, entrepreneurship, and economic transformation. To harness these opportunities, we must manage our resources effectively, strengthen our institutions, and ensure that public resources are used transparently and efficiently for the benefit of our people.

The work you do as Supreme Audit Institutions goes beyond financial compliance. You serve as guardians of public trust, defenders of institutional integrity, and protectors of democratic accountability. Strong, independent audit institutions are essential pillars of sustainable development, investor confidence, and social stability.

Africa's development aspirations cannot be achieved without accountable governance systems and prudent management of public resources. Your work, therefore, directly contributes to building resilient states and improving the lives of our citizens.

As the host country, Liberia remains committed to collaborating with regional and international partners to strengthen transparent institutions and promote responsible governance across our continent.

I encourage all delegates to use this gathering not only to exchange professional experiences and technical knowledge but also to deepen solidarity among African oversight institutions as we pursue our common development objectives.

Let me once again welcome you to Monrovia and wish you productive deliberations and a pleasant stay in Liberia.

It is now my honor to officially open the 22nd Governing Board Meeting and the 2026 Strategic Review Program of AFROSAI-E.

Thank you.