By Archie Sei-Bob Yini
A compliance audit by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) has flagged several travel-related expenditures associated with Mr. Bob Yeanue Kartoe, currently Deputy Director General for Administration at the National Food Assistance Agency (NFAA), raising renewed concerns about accountability in the management of public funds under Liberia’s anti-corruption framework.
Mr. Kartoe, who serves as Head of Administration at the NFAA and supervises the agency’s Finance, Procurement, Human Resource, and other administrative departments, was identified in the audit report as the recipient of travel-related payments that auditors said lacked supporting documentation.
The findings are contained in the Auditor General’s Compliance Audit Report on the expenditure of Nimba County Administration’s County Development Fund (CDF), Social Development Fund (SDF), and assets covering the period July 1, 2018, to December 31, 2023.
According to the report, auditors observed that some incidental travel allowances were not properly accounted for, while travel activity reports supporting certain expenditures were not made available for verification.
The report specifically references payments made in August 2021 to Mr. Kartoe for project validation and inspection tours across Nimba County’s electoral districts, as well as Daily Sustenance Allowance (DSA) payments related to county administration activities in Monrovia.
Auditors questioned transactions totaling US$9,705.60 and L$1.62 million, citing the absence of evidence showing that the expenditure was fully supported by travel activity reports.
The GAC warned that failure to comply with Liberia’s National Travel Ordinance could create opportunities for the misappropriation of public funds, unauthorized expenditures, and weaknesses in financial accountability.
“Travel expenditures not appropriately retired/accounted for may lead to misappropriation of the County’s funds,” the audit report noted.
The auditors recommended that all travel expenditures be approved by the relevant authorities before processing, calculated in accordance with the National Travel Ordinance, and supported by travel settlement forms, receipts, and activity reports.
In its response, county management acknowledged the audit findings and pledged to strengthen internal controls, improve documentation procedures, and ensure future compliance with public financial management regulations.
The findings emerge at a time when President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has repeatedly emphasized transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption as central pillars of his administration’s governance agenda.
Since assuming office, the Boakai administration has publicly committed itself to strengthening integrity institutions, enforcing audit recommendations, and ensuring that public officials are held accountable for the management of state resources regardless of their status or position.
Governance advocates say the latest audit findings provide another opportunity for anti-corruption institutions to demonstrate the government’s commitment to enforcing accountability measures across all sectors of government.
While the audit does not accuse Mr. Kartoe of criminal wrongdoing, it raises questions regarding compliance with financial management procedures and documentation requirements. Any determination of liability or wrongdoing would require further administrative review or investigation by the appropriate authorities.
This case has drawn public interest given Mr. Kartoe’s current senior role at the National Food Assistance Agency, where he oversees key administrative and financial functions critical to the agency’s operations.
Observers say how government institutions respond to audit findings such as these will serve as an important test of President Boakai’s pledge to promote transparency, strengthen public trust, and ensure that public resources are managed in accordance with the law.
