CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – The Chairman of the Joint Public Accounts Audit and Expenditure Committee (PAC) at the National Legislature, Margibi County District 5 Representative Clarence H. Gahr, has called on President Joe Boakai to refrain from acting on audit reports until the joint committee conducts hearings and submits the reports to him for action.
Representative Gahr made this call on Monday in the Joint Chamber of the National Legislature while delivering the opening statement for the day’s Public Account Audit and Expenditure hearing, currently being conducted by the committee.
Referencing Article 3 of the Liberian Constitution, Representative Gahr reminded the President that the Auditor General’s report is currently before the National Legislature for a hearing. Following this hearing, the validated report is to be sent to the President for any subsequent actions.
“No person holding office in one of these branches shall hold office in or exercise any of the powers assigned to either of the other two branches except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, and no person holding office in one of the said branches shall serve on any autonomous public agency,” Chapter 1, Article 3 of the Liberian Constitution reads.
Representative Gahr also warned that if President Boakai intends to take action against any government official, it should not be based on an audit report that is still under review by the Joint Public Account Committee.
“We want to use this medium to call on the President. Article 3 of the Liberian Constitution states, ‘No person holding office in one of these branches shall hold office in or exercise any of the powers assigned to either of the other two branches except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, and no person holding office in one of the said branches shall serve on any autonomous public agency,’” Representative Gahr reiterated.
Furthermore, the Joint Committee Chairman cautioned former public officials who are refusing to honor invitations for the hearings to desist from such acts. He warned that if their non-compliance continues, the committee will have no choice but to authorize the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to prosecute alleged corruption cases.
