Prime News Ghana

Liberia's George Weah issues financial directives

By PrimeNewsGhana
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Liberia’s newly elected president George Weah is on a mission to stamp his authority and implement his agenda as soon as possible.

On his first day in office after the January 22 inauguration ceremony, Weah named five key cabinet portfolios including the Defence, Finance and Foreign Affairs ministers.

Following that, the president has now issued financial directives that will ensure that he effectively controls government spending.

George Weah Instruct 

In a statement issued from the office of the president, the president ‘with immediate effect directed all Autonomous Agencies and Public Corporations of the Government to authorize and expend a cumulative amount of not more than USD $3,000 for operational expenses.

George Weah

“Any amount above the $3,000 USD threshold must seek approval from the Office of the President,” instructed the directive.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the HR Manager and all relevant signatories of the various autonomous agencies and Public Corporations of Government are further authorized to pay all legitimate salaries and other benefits to their employees.

The president in his inauguration speech promised to stamp out corruption, transform the economy and ‘construct the greatest machinery of pro-poor governance in the history of this country’.

In George Weah's inaugural speech as the 24th president of Liberia, George Weah made known his agenda and the priorities his government would pursue in his time in office.

Addressing tens of thousands of Liberians who had made it to the Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia and the millions watching on television, Weah said he was aware of the responsibility his government had to ‘deliver the change you deserve. Indeed, we must deliver the change that our people need, in order to transform their lives for the better.’

‘‘I promise to do everything in my power to be the agent of positive change. But I cannot do it alone,’‘ the president said.

George Weah War on corruption

Weah went on to address the issue of poverty and income inequality that had been aggravated by the several years of civil war.

‘‘It is my belief that the most effective way to directly impact the poor, and to narrow the gap between rich and poor, is to ensure that public resources do not end up in the pockets of Government officials."

Weah committed to wage a war on corruption, a pledge that was also made by his predecessor in office, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

‘‘I further believe that the overwhelming mandate I received from the Liberian people is a mandate to end corruption in public service. I promise to deliver on this mandate.’‘

Talking tough, Weah promised to ‘pay civil servants a living wage’ so that ‘corruption is not an excuse for taking what is not theirs’.

 

Credit: Africanews/Ghana News