Liberia: “There Must Be Audit”

“If we are afraid for the commission of inquiry to be established and for the audit to take place,” Sen. Johnson said, “it means something is wrong somewhere.”

Senator Prince Y. Johnson of Nimba County has urged President-elect Joseph N. Boakai to audit the Weah-led government when seated in office in January 2024, so that they can know as a government what is left and what they are going to be using to move forward.

He said if the President-elect does not audit the Weah-led government, the ‘Rescue Missionaries’ will need to give a second thought because six years is not long.

Johnson called on Boakai to prioritize an audit of the Weah-led government when he assumes office in January 2024, with the belief that conducting a thorough audit is essential for the new government to understand the state of affairs and make informed decisions. 

Senator Johnson’s statement was part of his Sunday, November 26, 2023 sermon at his church, Faith Chapel, located off Lover Street, Paynesville City. The sermon was the Senator’s first since he departed for Nimba ahead of the November 14 runoff election and vowed not to return to Monrovia until Boakai was announced the winner of the election. 

Senator Johnson expressed concern that failure to audit the outgoing government could lead to public backlash, emphasizing that public trust can be easily eroded if individuals within the new administration are seen as having close ties to the previous government without a proper accountability process in place.

Highlighting the issue of corruption, the Nimba County political god-father noted that previous leaders used the lack of audit reports to evade scrutiny and suppress those who sought transparency.

He believes that the fight against corruption must begin with a comprehensive audit to bring accountability to the forefront.

While acknowledging some accomplishments of President Weah, Johnson expressed disappointment with the way the former president allegedly misused public funds for personal gain instead of focusing on national development.

“God changed this government because of massive corruption, destruction of lives of people who had the record for the audit,” he said. “They destroyed them in order to suppress us. The fight against corruption starts with an audit now.”

According to Senator Johnson, God blessed President George Weah and took him from a ghetto to upgrade the living standard of the Liberian people, but he sat upon their heads and began merry-making with their money and became rich rather than nationalized.

With such recollection of bad governance and selfishness fresh in the minds of the Liberian people, Johnson urged President-elect Boakai to prioritize the interests of the Liberian people and ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.

Meanwhile, Johnson also called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the mysterious deaths of auditors and other prominent figures in Liberian history. By uncovering the truth behind these incidents and examining the overall state of affairs, Johnson believes the commission would contribute to greater transparency and justice in the country.

“If we are afraid for the commission of inquiry to be established and for the audit to take place,” he said, “it means something is wrong somewhere.”

He commended Liberians for their resilience and dedication to safeguarding their votes and democratic rights during the elections. He encouraged the populace to stay vigilant and actively participate in the governance of their country.

“Even in the face of some regime police, regime element who stopped by with force to take away the ballot boxes, you stood your ground and you were prepared to give up your lives,” he added

Johnson also highlighted the influence of followership in shaping leaders’ decisions. He stressed the importance of leaders maintaining their own thinking faculties and being guided by a strong moral compass, highlighting that a leader must be grounded in values and remain resolute in the face of challenges.

He continued by saying that, in Liberia, leaders are misled by followers and in the ministries of governance in any country, followership can destroy a person and can build them up; but a leader must have his or her own mind and their own thinking faculties and put them to force in operation.

The Senator mentioned that a leader is like a ladder. The ladder has steps. If the steps are not lubricated to keep the ladder strong, and if the rungs are rusty, it cannot help anyone to climb higher.

“So the leader must know that Jesus is the key in his life,” he said. “He is the source of all we have. If you do not have Christ to lead you, you are in trouble and you will be misled by your own conscience. Saul was taken away from the throne and David was enthroned.

According to him, destiny may be delayed but destiny is not denied. “No one can ever change it, and when God plans and decrees, no man can change it,” he declared.

“I was with President Weah, but I left him because he is Weah, Weah everything,” he said. “Everybody wants a job, a job will be given but it will be based on competent people. 

Johnson also emphasized that a leader’s faith and adherence to ethical principles are crucial for effective governance. He urged President-elect Boakai to prioritize the audit and commission of inquiry, as they are essential steps towards building a more accountable and transparent government.