A CONTROVERSY HAS erupted between the General Services Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the procurement of vehicles that allegedly violate government’s spending thresholds.
THE GSA CLAIMS that the EPA purchased Toyota Land Cruiser for US$45,100 and Toyota Cruiser for US$78,000, both exceeding the government’s US$45,000 threshold for vehicle purchases.
THE GSA, RESPONSIBLE for overseeing government properties, made a recent report to the Liberian Senate over the weekend, revealing that the report, which covers from 2024 to the present, cut across 13 ministries and agencies.
THE US$45,000 CAP was established to ensure that government officials do not indulge in extravagant spending at the expense of taxpayers, but GSA shows that the EPA’s decision to acquire a vehicle valued at US$78,000 is a clear violation of the policy.
ACCORDING TO THE GSA report read by Sinoe County Senator Crayton Duncan, from the 13 ministries and Agencies documented, the EPA spent US$45,100 on a Toyota Land Cruiser as well as US$78,000 on a Toyota Cruiser.
THE RECENT REVELATIONS of alleged overspending by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in procuring vehicles beyond the government’s mandated threshold demand urgent scrutiny and accountability.
WE CALL ON all public officials to respect the laws governing public spending. Uphold the integrity of their offices. Lead by example. Because Liberia cannot afford to squander its limited resources on luxury when basic services still fall short.
IT IS TROUBLING that an agency tasked with protecting our environment would seemingly neglect the need to protect the public purse. Leadership is not just about mandates and missions it is about setting an example. If government officials cannot abide by spending limits, how can citizens trust them to uphold other laws and principles?
WE BELIEVE THAT Liberians by all accounts deserve transparency and accountability and this why oversight institutions like the GSA must not only report violations but push for consequences.
AS LIBERIANS ARE tired of hearing about flagrant disregard for the rule of law by those in officialdom, the government must launch a swift, independent investigation into the EPA’s procurement process to set the records straight for future transactions.
GIVEN OUR NATION’S history as one of the trail blazers in governance (1847 Independence), one would think that the idea of flouting the law should be an anachronism and in fact should be in retreat given this regime’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
