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President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Sunday issued the following statement as she nominated Board and other officials of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), subject, where applicable, to confirmation by the Honorable Liberian Senate:
Fellow Liberians,
As we move into a new term of administration, we are initiating an important program of reforms across government. These reforms are crucial to delivering our highest priority: improving the welfare and development of all the people of Liberia.
Over the past few years, our Public Corporations or State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), managed by appointed senior officials and guided by appointed Boards of Directors, have provided useful service to the nation. In most cases, they have done so with minimal interference. Recent evaluations detected shortcomings in the operations of these entities - lapses in full adherence to procurement and public finance management laws, board qualifications, staff competencies, inadequacies in accountability (through regular operational and financial reporting) and effective Board oversight.
We continue to review relevant studies and evaluations in determining the appropriate roles of SOEs, and the need for divestiture of these entities whose services may be more properly provided by the private sector. In the meanwhile, there is a need to make certain changes in the policies, management and oversight functions of these entities, thereby making them more accountable and transparent to the public. This is part of our commitment to create an open,...