LIBERIA: SAMUEL TWEAH THREATENS TO HOLD MINISTERS’ SALARIES

The Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning(MFDP), Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. has threatened to hold the salaries of government ministers and officials who renege on making financial report during the accounting period.
Minister Tweah disclosed that the Public Financial Management Law gives him the authority to hold back salaries of government officials who refused to make financial report on allotments received from the National Budget.
Minister Tweah made the statement when the European Union and Government of Liberia(GoL) signed four financing Agreements worth 80 million euros (88million USD) on Monday, June 5, 2023.
Minister Tweah statement came weeks after the Political Leader of the Movement for Progressive Change(MPC) Simeon Freeman accused government of not implementing the budget properly due to the lack of financial performance reports.
Mr. Freeman said in one of his media appearances that the GoL lacks the ability to execute the budget in the absence of budget performance reports.
Mr. Freeman has been on the back of the government criticizing the Weah Administration for its poor handling of the economy and the refusal of government officials to produce budget performance reports every budget year.
In agreement with the MPC’s assertion, Minister Tweah pointed out that Internal auditors have found it difficult to audit the books of ministries and agencies due to the lack of reports on their spending.
He added that going forward, all ministers and heads of government institutions will be obligated to make their reports to the MFDP before receiving salaries for the ensuing month.