MONROVIA — Labour advocate and University of Liberia adjunct faculty member George Sahr Tengbeh has called for comprehensive financial, personnel and academic credentials audits at the country’s premier public university, urging authorities to strengthen accountability, transparency and academic standards ahead of 2027.
Tengbeh is calling on the General Auditing Commission (GAC), the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) and the university administration to undertake an independent review of the institution’s finances, verify employee records and qualifications, and ensure that faculty appointments and promotions comply with established academic requirements.
In a statement addressed to University of Liberia President Dr. Layli Maparyan, GAC Comptroller General Garswa P. Jackson and IAA head David A. Kemah, Tengbeh urged the relevant authorities to prioritize a comprehensive external financial audit beginning in January 2027.
He said the exercise would establish a clearer picture of the university’s financial and administrative position while identifying weaknesses requiring corrective action.
According to Tengbeh, the university’s last financial audit was reportedly conducted during the 2023/2024 period, with no subsequent external audit of the current administration identified in his statement.
“We want to see a different version of institutional integrity at the University of Liberia in 2027,” Tengbeh said, emphasizing that accountability and academic excellence should remain central to the institution’s governance.
Tengbeh Calls for Semester-Based Financial Audits
Beyond an external financial review, Tengbeh proposed internal financial audits every semester under the supervision of the Internal Audit Agency.
He argued that the university’s public funding and internally generated revenues require consistent monitoring to ensure proper accounting, effective expenditure controls, and responsible resource management.
Regular audits, he said, would help identify potential financial irregularities, improve financial reporting and strengthen the university’s internal control systems.
Tengbeh also acknowledged President Maparyan’s reported initiative to station IAA representatives at the university as independent internal auditors. However, he argued that their presence should be supported by regular reviews, effective follow-up mechanisms and implementation of recommendations arising from audit findings.
He maintained that internal auditing should produce measurable improvements in financial oversight rather than remain a procedural arrangement.
Personnel Records and Academic Credentials Under Scrutiny
Tengbeh also called for periodic personnel and academic credentials audits to verify employees’ records, qualifications, appointments, and related expenditures.
He recommended annual or biennial reviews, with the university’s Human Resource Management Department working alongside the IAA to maintain accurate and regularly updated personnel records.
According to him, such reviews would help establish whether appointments are properly documented, academic qualifications are verifiable, and personnel expenditures comply with established procedures.
He stressed, however, that the process should be conducted professionally and fairly, with respect for institutional regulations, employee rights and appropriate verification procedures.
Challenges GAC to Commission Independent Audit
Tengbeh directly challenged the General Auditing Commission to prioritize an independent audit of the university, referencing Jackson’s previous experience in the institution’s financial administration, internal auditing and comptrollership.
He also pointed to Jackson’s record of commissioning audits under his leadership at the GAC, arguing that the University of Liberia should receive similar attention.
“The GAC under your watch must respond to the University’s request for an audit and take the necessary steps to commission one under this new administration,” Tengbeh said.
He emphasized that an external audit should not be construed as an accusation against the current administration but as a standard governance measure for public institutions entrusted with managing public resources.
An independent review, he argued, would provide a clearer assessment of the university’s financial position and help strengthen public confidence in its management.
Faculty Promotions and Research Standards
Tengbeh’s proposed reforms extend beyond financial and administrative management to the qualifications, research records and promotion standards of faculty members.
He urged President Maparyan to enforce existing policies requiring the verification of academic credentials, research outputs and qualifications corresponding to faculty members’ respective ranks.
He expressed concern about cases in which faculty members holding master’s degrees may occupy senior academic positions without demonstrable research experience or peer-reviewed publications, where such qualifications and outputs are required by university standards.
Tengbeh said the institution should consistently apply its approved requirements and ensure that promotion decisions are supported by verifiable evidence of scholarly competence.
He also called on the university’s Board of Trustees to establish clear and transparent promotion criteria for academic staff if such provisions are not already in place.
Under his proposal, promotions to Assistant Professor and Associate Professor should follow the university’s approved requirements, including terminal degrees where required, peer-reviewed publications, demonstrated research capacity and the ability to attract competitive external research grants where applicable.
Tengbeh argued that transparent promotion standards would strengthen the university’s academic credibility, encourage research productivity and improve its prospects of securing international academic partnerships and donor support.
Calls for Broader Institutional Reform
Tengbeh framed the proposed audits as part of a broader effort to strengthen the university’s financial management, administrative systems and academic standing.
He said regular financial reviews, accurate personnel records and credible academic promotion procedures would help ensure that public resources are properly managed and academic standards are consistently enforced.
He cautioned that the proposed exercises should follow established institutional procedures and should not be used to target individuals or undermine any administration.
“As we enter 2027, our goal should be to build a University of Liberia that is financially accountable, administratively transparent, and academically competitive,” he said.
He urged the university administration, the GAC and the IAA to treat the proposals as an opportunity to reinforce public trust and advance institutional development.
“The time is now. Let us make 2027 a year of accountability, credible academic standards, and meaningful institutional reform at the University of Liberia,” Tengbeh added.
The statement did not include responses from the university administration, the GAC or the IAA regarding the proposed audits.