Liberia: Certified Fraud Examiners Certificates 72 to Fight Corruption
— As three-day annual workshop-conference ends
Over the weekend, the Liberia Chapter of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) concluded its three-day annual workshop-conference with 72 participants receiving certificates of professional development aimed at empowering them to double up efforts in the fight against corruption.
Augustine G. Chenoway, President of ACFE Liberia Chapter, admonished the recipients of the certificates to demonstrate their unflinching support towards efforts that are tailored for quality public service, with emphasis on fighting corruption.
“For those of us in investigation, we have to acquaint ourselves with the existing laws in the country and the new ones that are coming out. As auditors and investigators, laws are a main component of your operations aside from the existing financial schemes,” Chenoway said.
He expressed joy that the gathering, held at the Civil Service Agency (CSA) building at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, achieved 90 percent of its objectives.
ACFE is a professional organization based in Austin, Texas. Founded in 1998 by Joseph T. Wells, ACFE grants the professional designation of Certified Fraud Examiner. The ACFE Liberia Chapter has its members spread across anti-graft institutions and government agencies as well as private entities, demonstrating a commitment to upholding professional standards and combating corruption.
“At CFE, although we have the papers, additional needed skills remain vital to our day-to-day professional lives. As our professions are dynamic, we too have to be moving forward or else the [certificates] might be meaningless,” Chenoway told his colleagues, adding that they should endeavor to sharpen their skills in computer education so as to move along with the globally advancing and dynamic work habits engulfed by technology.
Also making remarks at the closing ceremonies of ACFE’s conference was Seiwon T. Seidi, Deputy Director General for Special Audits at the Internal Audit Agency (IAA).
Seidi said the CFE is a credential that is highly appreciated and the best all members can do is that they all must hold together within ACFE’s jurisdiction. “It should not be a paper kept. For compliance, there is a need to be recognized based on these kinds of learning participations.”
He noted that like the Physician Assistants, Lawyers and many other professional organizations, ACFE needs to make itself unique too.
“We owe it to ourselves to keep on refreshing or acquiring more new knowledge. Acquiring credentials is one thing, the ability to defend the credentials is another thing,” he said as he concluded his remark.
For the Civil Service Agency (CSA), Alfred Drosay said his agency is committed to partnerships with other government institutions and agencies that are working on improving the living conditions of the Liberian people.
“Each time we gather in a room for training or a capacity building we learn something new. We acquire new skills, new techniques, methods and applications that we can use to be more proficient in the work that we do,” Drosay said.
Drosay is the administrative assistant in the office of James A. Thompson, Director General, Civil Service Agency (CSA).
He expressed hope that the recipients of the certificates will go back and make a difference in their respective areas of work. “We expect that you do the right thing. Liberia is now moving in a new direction and we expect people to think positively and act positively so that the impact will be felt.”
There were participants from the Liberia Revenue Authority, the banking sector, the General Auditing Commission, the Internal Audit Agency as well as NGOs and other anti-graft agencies of government.