The Auditor General (AG) of the Republic of Liberia, John S. Morlu II says the Governance Commission (GC) is the microcosm of all reforms in government and as such, all projects or programs of government associated with governance reform must be under the canopy of control, approval, supervision, monitoring, coordination and plan of the GC.

Speaking Saturday, March 6, 2010 when a five-member delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI) paid a courtesy call on him at the GAC, AG Morlu intoned that the GC is not limited to political reforms such as decentralization; rather it is also responsible for coordinating structural and institutional reforms, professionalization of government through public sector and public financial management reforms, reforms of public corporations, etc.

Morlu: If international partners channeled all of their governance reform projects and programs directly to the Governance Commission (GC), more outputs and productivities will sprout for the good of the country and the government.

AG Morlu narrated further that he finds it incomprehensible why some international people will sideline GC and select the least option of working with government ministries that have no mandate and authority on governance reform. GC has the specialty, experience, qualification and knowledge to produce quality works for the Government and the people of Liberia.

AG Morlu: When some of the international people come to GAC opting to bring similar projects that supposed to exclusively be under the gavel of supervision, control and plan of the Governance Commission (GC), I say no because GC is responsible for governance issues. If the Government of Liberia does not want the GC to operate and carry out its mandate, then dissolve GC because GAC cannot form part of an arrangement designed to undermine and render useless existing institutions like the GC.

Providing best options for intervention by international partners, the Auditor General noted that emphasis must be placed on four levels, namely; structural, institutional, professional and technical levels.

The IRI delegation, which comprises Daniel Fisk, Coordinator for Governance, Maria-Teresa Nogales, Program Officer of Governance Program, Scott Pool, Deputy Director, African Division, Sarah Aldrich, Program Assistant, African Division and Mohamed Boakai, Program Officer, expressed compliment to the AG for the level of hard work the GAC is doing and the added value to the Liberian people and the Government of Liberia.

Members of the delegation said they were very impressed that people are actively involved with audits and are appreciating the work of the GAC as demonstrated by the scores of petitions often pouring on the GAC and the recent ones to the President in Grand Gedeh and River Gee calling for audits of their counties funds.

The delegation and the Auditor General agreed that accountability and transparency are the bedrocks for the sustenance of democracy.

Among the issues also discussed were how assert declaration can be audited and how GAC can audit the records of NGOs after those NGOs submit their reports to the Planning Ministry; how civil society organizations can assist in corruption and good governance.

The Auditor General, who reaffirmed GAC un-daunting commitment in the fight against fraud, waste, abuse of resources and fiscal improprieties, concluded that the issues of corruption and impunity are long standing problems that need demonstrable commitment, purposeful agenda and moral clarity to fully attain.