By By: Alphanso G. Kalama
Washington, D.C. – The Auditor General of Liberia, P. Garswa Jackson Sr., along with his team, has signed a groundbreaking five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). This partnership, regarded as the gold standard for Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), aims to strengthen the capacity of the General Auditing Commission (GAC) through comprehensive training and development initiatives.
The MoU was officially signed on December 12, 2024, in Washington, DC, and marks a significant step forward in Liberia’s efforts to improve its public sector auditing standards. Through this collaboration, the GAC will benefit from both online and in-person training programs facilitated by the U.S. GAO Center of Audit Excellence. Additionally, starting in April 2025, at least one auditor from the GAC will participate annually in a prestigious three-month secondment program as part of the International Auditor Fellowship Program offered by the GAO.
Auditor General Jackson expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, highlighting the value of this partnership in building a more capable and professional auditing institution in Liberia. “We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to the Honorable Comptroller General of the United States and Head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Mr. Gene L. Dodaro, and his team, for the recognition, collaboration, and invaluable opportunity to enhance the capacity of our staff at the GAC,” he said.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to bolster the integrity and efficiency of Liberia’s public sector through advanced auditing practices. The MoU was made possible through the support and coordination of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Liberia, which played a critical role in validating the impact of the GAC’s work.
Following the signing ceremony, the Auditor General and his team are set to engage in high-profile meetings with several U.S. institutions, including:
- Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
- Global Anti-Corruption Office, U.S. Department of State
- Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), U.S. Department of Treasury
- Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
These engagements are expected to foster further collaboration and knowledge exchange to improve governance and accountability in Liberia.
This milestone underscores Liberia’s commitment to advancing good governance practices and sets a precedent for international partnerships aimed at sustainable capacity development within its public institutions.
