Minister Myers Launches New Internal Audit Reforms to Strengthen Financial Oversight in Liberia

Monrovia, Liberia - The government of Liberia on Thursday, June 25 officially launched the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) Regulations alongside a Public Sector Internal Audit Compliance Checklist. Acting Finance Minister, Hon. Anthony G. Myers, who officially launched the instruments emphasized that they are a set of tools designed to strengthen accountability, improve transparency, and tighten control over the use of public funds.

The launch ceremony in Monrovia brought together senior government officials, lawmakers, civil society actors, and development partners, signaling broad institutional backing for reforms aimed at improving how government ministries and agencies manage, track, and report public expenditures.

The initiative implemented through the Internal Audit Agency and supported by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is part of a wider public financial management reform agenda intended to improve budget execution, strengthen internal controls, and ensure compliance with national financial laws and procurement standards.

Deputy Minister Myers disclosed that the reforms are the result of years of institutional development in Liberias audit architecture. He added that at the center of the reform package is the new compliance checklist, which he characterized as a practical tool designed to simplify internal audit processes..

Minister Myers emphasized that the reforms are expected to strengthen procurement oversight, improve internal financial controls, and support ongoing digital modernization of Liberias public financial systems. He stressed that public spending must remain aligned with established legal frameworks governing budgeting, procurement, and expenditure management.

Minister Myers also urged full government-wide adoption of the regulations and
checklist, calling on senior managers, procurement officers, financial controllers, and internal auditors to integrate the tools into routine operations. He cautioned that the success of the reform will depend not only on the availability of the instruments but also on the discipline and technical capacity of those responsible for implementation.

He praised the Internal Audit Agency for its leadership role in advancing the reforms and expressed confidence that the initiative will reduce compliance delays, strengthen budget execution, and enhance the credibility of public financial reporting. He formally declared the regulations and checklist launched, marking the start of nationwide implementation.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Internal Audit Agency, Hon. David A. Kemah (CPA) used the occasion to give an overview of the statutory mandate of the Internal Audit Agency. He stated among other things that the Internal Audit Agency was established by an Act of the National Legislature in 2013, with a clear and far-reaching mandate: i)To establish, manage, and standardize internal audit functions across all ministries, agencies, and commissions of government, to include the Legislature, the Judiciary, and the Executive; ii) to ensure that internal audit units operate with independence, competence, and consistency; and iv) to evaluate internal controls, risk management, and governance within the public sector.

While conveying appreciations to the government and partners, the IAA boss disclosed that as of today, June 25, 2026, the IAA is managing the internal audit function in ninety-six(96) of Liberia's one hundred forty (143) public entities, including seven (7) of the country's fifteen (15) counties. He revealed that the Agency has also issued well over a dozen special audit reports.

Hon. Kemah further stated the expanding footprint means that internal auditors are now positioned to respond in real time to issues of non-compliance, and more importantly to proactively identify weaknesses and recommend corrective measures before small problems become large losses.

Also, in attendance at the occasion and making separate remarks were: Senate Public Accounts and Audit Committee Chair Hon. Gbeazohngar Milton Finley, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs Hon. Bill McGill Jones, and a host of government officials and development partners.