Monrovia, Liberia – Bong County District 1 Representative Prince K. Koinah has reaffirmed his call for transparency and accountability in the Liberian Legislature by announcing progress toward a long-awaited comprehensive audit of the House of Representatives’ financial and administrative operations.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
Addressing legislative reporters on Capitol Hill, Rep. Koinah disclosed that the House’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which he co-chairs, has officially notified the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to initiate the audit process. He confirmed that formal correspondence has already been sent to the GAC, signaling the House’s willingness to undergo scrutiny.
“As I speak, a letter was drafted and addressed to the GAC. So we await the presence of GAC to come so that we can start our initial interview to arrange time and date for the audit,” Rep. Koinah stated. “For the audit, we are not taking it lightly. It’s about taking the dark cloud off the Legislature.”
The audit, if authorized by the full Plenary, is expected to cover both the 54th and 55th Legislatures—spanning from July 1, 2021, through May 31, 2025. According to Rep. Koinah, the objective is to determine whether the House’s financial practices and administrative operations have adhered to relevant laws and procedures. The review will also assess internal controls, risk management, and governance effectiveness.
Rep. Koinah has consistently advocated for greater transparency within government institutions. In a formal communication to the House earlier this year, he highlighted the lack of recent audits of the Legislature as a matter of public concern.
“To the best of my knowledge, the operations of this Honorable House have not been audited recently,” he wrote. “This situation cannot continue unchecked, as we are custodians of the people’s trust. We must lead by example if we wish to uphold the trust and confidence of the constituents we represent.”
He further emphasized that the audit would serve as a necessary step toward restoring credibility to the Legislature amid growing public concerns over the misuse of public funds.
“I believe that auditing this Honorable House will dispel any negative perceptions or misconceptions people may hold about us, thereby restoring credibility to this august body,” he added.
According to procedural guidelines, the GAC would be given 90 days to complete the audit once officially commissioned by Plenary.
In a separate matter during the 13th day sitting of the second session of the 55th Legislature, Rep. Koinah also drew attention to the dangerous condition of the St. John River Bridge — a critical infrastructure that connects Bong County Electoral District 1 to Grand Bassa County Electoral District 4.
In his communication to Plenary, Koinah described the bridge’s deteriorating state as a serious threat to public safety and commerce. He called on the House of Representatives to summon key infrastructure stakeholders to account for the neglect of the bridge.
“My distinguished colleagues, the bridge I am discussing connects Bong County Electoral District 1, which I represent, and Grand Bassa County Electoral District 4, represented by my esteemed colleague, Hon. Alfred H. Flomo,” he said. “This bridge, which is vital for commerce and other activities for the people in two counties, is in a terrible condition – in a dreadful shape that it is no longer safe for our people to use.”
He reported that the bridge’s condition has already led to loss of life, and that without immediate intervention, more lives could be endangered.
“Given the foregoing, and as the people’s representative, I ask for the indulgence of this Honorable Plenary to invite the Minister of Public Works and the Director of the Bureau of Concessions to explain to this body why this vital bridge has not been attended to,” he urged.
According to Koinah, the Ministry of Public Works is responsible for road and bridge maintenance across Liberia, while the Bureau of Concessions oversees infrastructure commitments within concession agreements. He noted that accountability is needed on both fronts.
Following deliberations, the House forwarded Koinah’s communication to the Committees on Public Works; Investment and Concessions; Ways, Means, and Finance; and Internal Affairs. The committees have been tasked with reviewing the matter and reporting back to Plenary within two weeks.
Rep. Koinah’s twin advocacy—pushing for a legislative audit and calling urgent attention to decaying infrastructure—has drawn praise from transparency advocates and citizens alike, who view his efforts as essential to rebuilding public trust in governance.
