The Plenary of the Liberian Senate has mandated all top officials at the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) to appear before the Committees on Public Account and Audits and Autonomous Agencies and Corporation on the account of “fake” performance and financial report provided by the entity.
The Plenary took the decision ion Thursday, March 6, 2025 during the 14th day sitting of the second session of the 55th Legislature, following the reading of a complaint by Sinoe County Senator Crayton O. Duncan.
In his communication addressed to the Plenary through the President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Senator Duncan, who is also the Chairman of the Committee on Public Corporations and Autonomous Agencies, informed the august body that authorities of the NDMA provided ‘‘fake accounts’’ in its performance report to justify monies allotted to it in the 2024 National Budget.
The Sinoe County lawmaker, who has direct oversight over the NDMA, pointed out that most of the activities outlined by the current heads of the Agency in its performance report, were done by the past management of the Agency during the regime of President George Manneh Weah.
“In the 2024 budget report, the agency indicated four milestones achievements. But those projects or activities were done by previous management, according to documents that we have in our possession,” stated Senator Duncan when he was given the floor to provide a brief of his communication to Plenary – the highest decision-making body of the Liberian Senate.
“Upon realizing this, we immediately engaged the heads of that entity – the Executive Director and the other Directors, who again informed us that it was the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning that contradicted their report. Predicated upon this, we thought to invite the heads of the National Disaster Management Agency to appear before this august body to provide us the real, detailed performance and financial contrary to the one that is being disputed, and I so submit,” the Sinoe County Senator added.
Following the reading of Senator Duncan’s communication and subsequent presentation by him, a motion was proffered for the heads of NDMA to appear before the Public Account Committee and Autonomous Agencies and Corporations next Tuesday.
