Politics

Liberia’s President Boakai orders audit of central bank, other agencies

Published

10 months ago

February 10, 2024

As part of his attempts to combat corruption, President Joseph Boakai of Liberia has ordered an audit of three important government agencies, including the central bank.

Boakai who recently won the election to lead the West African country on a platform of fighting corruption and enhancing living conditions, defeated his predecessor George Weah in the elections held in November.

The president issued a statement stating that Boakai has requested that the national security agency, executive protection service, and central bank be audited by Liberia’s General Auditing Commission.

The investigation will focus on the years 2018–2023, and it will submit its results in a three-month period.

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2023 in Africa reveals a range of outcomes, with notable improvements in a few nations. Nonetheless, the majority of African nations saw a state of stagnation, which preserved the region’s continuously subpar performance and preserved the average regional score of 33 out of 100.

According to Transparency International’s 2023 CPI, out of 180 countries, Liberia is ranked 145th least corrupt. From 2005 to 2023, Liberia’s corruption rank averaged 114.67; it peaked at 150.00 in 2007 and fell to a record low of 75.00 in 2012.

According to the statement, it is “the beginning of a holistic audit of government ministries and agencies” in keeping with Boakai’s pledge to combat corruption and guarantee openness.

The central bank did not respond to questions about confirmation.

Weah suspended three government officials in August 2022 after the US imposed sanctions on them due to what the US claimed was their continued involvement in public corruption.

Related Topics:Featured Joseph Boakai Liberia

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Politics

Mauritius’ Prime Minister to double as Finance Minister

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In an effort to maintain a tight eye on the economy, Mauritius’ Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, who took office this month following a resounding election victory, said on Friday that he would retain the position of finance minister for himself.

“We are doing an audit of the economy to see to what extent the outgoing government has destroyed it,” Ramgoolam told reporters in the capital Port Louis after he presided over the swearing-in of other ministers.

Ten years after he stepped down as prime minister, the seasoned politician returned to the position when his Alliance du Changement (ADC) alliance won 60 of the 62 seats in the national legislature.

The 77-year-old Ramgoolam said earlier this week that he would be auditing governmental finances. Before this, he was prime minister from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014.

Ramgoolam started a campaign in 2006 to streamline taxes and reduce bureaucracy to diversify the $10 billion economy beyond exports of sugar, textiles, and tourism.

Since then, the 1.3 million-person nation, which positions itself as a bridge between Africa and Asia, has developed into a major offshore financial hub and has been rated by the World Bank as the easiest location to do business in Africa regularly.

Politics

Mali’s junta names spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga new Prime Minister

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

A day after dismissing Choguel Maiga for criticising the government, Mali’s governing junta named its spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, as Prime Minister on Thursday, according to state broadcaster, ORTM.

A source close to Choguel Maiga told Reuters that the ruling generals were incensed by Maiga’s remarks over the weekend denouncing the junta’s inability to hold elections within the 24-month timeframe given for the return to democracy.

After promising to hold elections in February, the military authorities, who took control in two separate coups in 2020 and 2021, have put off the poll indefinitely, citing technological difficulties.

Choguel Maiga’s firing coincides with indications of growing discontent and disarray among Mali politicians, even those who first supported the coup and collaborated with the junta.

As the wait for elections continues, Choguel Maiga, a civilian prime minister who was installed by the military junta in 2021, is the most recent to lose support.

He was cited on Saturday as claiming he learnt of the junta’s decision via the media and that there had been no discussion regarding the delay of the elections inside the cabinet.

“It’s all happening in total secrecy, without the prime minister’s knowledge,” Choguel Maiga told reporters.

Before then, he had frequently stood up for Mali’s junta against criticism from foreign friends and neighbours in West Africa who denounced its repeated election delays and military collaboration with Russian mercenaries.

As government spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, the new prime minister, has also made strong public remarks against France, the previous colonial master. One such speech was demanding French President Emmanuel Macron to stop his “neocolonial” and “condescending” behaviour.

Abdoulaye Maiga and Assimi Goita, the leaders of the junta, announced they had kept all of the important cabinet ministers in their portfolios in the new administration in a statement that was broadcast on state television ORTM.

The announcement said that Abdoulaye Maiga will remain minister of territory administration.