Rédaction Africa Links 24 with New Dawn
Published on 2024-03-07 01:22:00
The Liberian government is facing a significant financial burden due to its continued use of rented or leased private properties for public offices. According to General Services Agency (GSA) Director General-designate Galakpai Wozie Kortimai, the government owes land and building owners over US$1.7 million for rental services.
Mr. Kortimai shared this information during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Autonomous Agency, chaired by Bong County Senator Johnny Kpehe. He expressed his commitment to verifying the exact amount owed to property owners once confirmed by the Senate. The government’s failure to settle its financial obligations to these landlords has created an embarrassing situation for the GSA.
If confirmed, Mr. Kortimai pledged to work towards lobbying the 55th Legislature to allocate funds in the budget for Fiscal Year 2024 to settle the debt. He emphasized the importance of the GSA’s role in managing government-owned and leased properties, including housing and public buildings.
In his plan for the next 100 days, Mr. Kortimai outlined several key initiatives. These include establishing a task force to recover government vehicles and assets being misused, responding to renovation needs of Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions, and setting up a technical team to assess leased properties for accurate financial obligations.
He also highlighted the goal of centralizing renovations of government-owned and leased buildings to reduce costs and prevent misuse of government assets by public officials. Additionally, Mr. Kortimai proposed reintroducing the Department of National Financial Management to ensure proper recording of purchase vouchers and minimize discrepancies in purchasing processes.
Overall, Mr. Kortimai’s plans aim to address the financial challenges faced by the Liberian government regarding rented or leased properties. By taking proactive measures to manage government assets and liabilities more effectively, he hopes to improve financial accountability and reduce the burden on the state. His commitment to transparency and efficiency in property management reflects a long-term strategy to strengthen Liberia’s public administration and resource management practices.
Read the original article on The Newdawn Liberia
