-CENTAL Challenges Government
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has called for immediate criminal investigations into massive discrepancies in government revenue collection, including over US$257 million that cannot be traced to the state’s main account, as unearthed by the General Auditing Commission GAC’s recent audit report.
The GAC audit, which covered the period from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2024, revealed systemic failures in how public funds are collected, recorded, and reconciled. Consider these and other findings, CENTAL is calling on the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, the Ministry of Justice, and other anti-graft agencies to launch and conclude criminal investigations into the discrepancies and alleged abuses.
The anti-corruption organization also wants the Legislature’s Public Accounts Committee to hold open hearings on the audit report, while urging the Liberia Revenue Authority, the Central Bank, and other institutions to fully implement the findings. CENTAL is demanding that the government regularly update the public on what is being done to safeguard national revenue.
Among the key findings, General Auditing Commission (GAC's) audit uncovered major discrepancies between revenue recorded in the Tax Administration System and deposits made to the government’s Consolidated Revenue Account at the Central Bank. It also flagged gaps between funds recorded in Transitory Bank Accounts and the General Revenue Account, as well as variances between customs records in ASYCUDA and tax records in LITAS. Furthermore, the audit identified unauthorized withdrawals, irregular reversal transactions, and delayed remittances of public revenue from commercial banks to government accounts.
CENTAL said it was particularly troubled by findings that revenues totaling US$257,512,276 and L$23,633,186,485 recorded in transitory bank accounts could not be traced to the General Revenue Account. The organization also cited unauthorized withdrawals of US$59,786.14 and L$55,773.87, in addition to cash payments at rural customs and tax collectorates that were reportedly held by collectors for extended periods, leaving public money exposed to theft and abuse.
While CENTAL welcomes reform efforts announced by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Liberia Revenue Authority, and the Central Bank of Liberia during a May 19 joint press conference, the organization said those steps are forward-looking and do not sufficiently address the alleged past violations. Those measures include revised banking agreements for transitory accounts, daily sweep reports from commercial banks, wider use of ASYCUDA at customs points, and a new version of the system intended to support direct electronic reconciliation with banks and the Central Bank.
