The audit highlights that during President Joseph Boakai’s administration, 647 of the supplementary staff were made redundant without proper legal process.
Monrovia – The General Auditing Commission (GAC) has submitted a compliance audit to the National Legislature uncovering widespread procedural breaches in the recruitment, payroll management, and termination of 739 supplementary staff hired by the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs (MOS) from July 1, 2018 to March 31, 2024.
According to the audit, the personnel were recruited during former President George Weah’s administration without adherence to Civil Service Agency (CSA) guidelines, which require certification and competitive recruitment based on institutional needs.
The GAC found no evidence that these standards were met, and recruitment records were either incomplete or missing.
Additionally, the MOS reportedly failed to maintain monthly payroll journals, bank statements, and other documentation for the US$7.9 million and L$964,766.21 paid to the staff, relying instead on data extracted from the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).
The audit also highlights that during President Joseph Boakai’s administration, 647 of the supplementary staff were made redundant without proper legal process. Severance payments were calculated at two weeks’ pay instead of the four weeks per year of service mandated by the Decent Work Act of 2015. The GAC recommended a re-computation of severance packages and retroactive payments where necessary.
Furthermore, 74 laid-off staff members with a combined US$76,440 in unpaid arrears were excluded from the severance payout due to missing employment records. The GAC found no evidence the unpaid cheques were voided or the funds retained by the Ministry, and called on MOS to account for the money.
The report also revealed that some of the previously laid-off workers were rehired along with new personnel, totaling 74 individuals with combined monthly salaries of US$36,367.50.
These hires were again made without CSA oversight, and many lacked proper documentations such as departmental assignments or identification records.
The GAC has urged the MOS to rectify all compliance breaches and align future recruitment and termination processes with legal and regulatory standards.
