LNOC Resists GAC Audit!
Mr. Philibert S. Browne
By Roland M. Mulbah
The president of the Liberia National Olympic Committee Mr.
Philibert S. Browne has resisted any form of audit from the General
Auditing Commission (GAC) after the GAC boss Mr. John S. Morlu,II
wrote Mr. Browne on March 20, 2009 about an audit to be performed at
the LNOC from the fiscal period of January 2006 to December 2008.
In a press conference held at the headquarters of the LNOC on March
25, 2008, the LNOC boss told reporters that a day after he received
the letter from the GAC informing him about an audit to be carried
on at the LNOC, he immediately replied clarifying to the GAC that
the LNOC is a non governmental entity which charter forbids
government or political interference and therefore should not be
audited in any way or whatever by government.
“Why is the GAC so concern only about the USD$ 20,000.00 for audit?
There are other funds allocated and not received why is the GAC not
concern? It there will be audit, it should cover all funds and not
limited to the USD$20,000.00. The USD $95,000.00 for the 2008
Beijing Olympics as well as funds for the Abuja Zone III Games and
the All African Games in Algeria in 2007,” the LNOC boss noted.
Also concerning the USD$20,000.00 Mr.. Mr. Browne further noted “the
USD$20,000.00 was given to the LNOC to build an Olympic size
swimming pool. Because the USD$20,000.00 was very minute to build
the swimming pool, we decided it goes to the Olympic Village
project. If the proper authorities want the money back, we are
willing to give back as such amount is very small for an entity like
the LNOC,” he said.
The veteran Liberian sports administrator said the issue of auditing
the LNOC comes about when his newspaper, National Chronicle has
written serious stories about the Auditor general.
“National Chronicle is my personal property and I think any problem
you have with the National Chronicle should be linked to be and not
the LNOC,” he further noted.
Meanwhile, the Auditor General of the GAC Mr. John S. Morlu, II
attached a sample of paid voucher of USD$20,000..00 paid in the name
of the LNOC. Mr. Morlu said the amount is Liberian government’s
money and that the Auditor General has the statutory authorization
to ensure use of all public funds.
“The GAC is not interested in direct or political interference. We
want to ensure the support of fiscal accountability, transparency
and integrity.
“An institution that does not want to be accountable must not take
taxpayers’ monies. We can assure you that the GAC will limit it work
to the most important issues,” the GAC noted. |
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