IAA Earns Presidential Recognition

IAA Hires New Executive Director for Administration

IAA Earns Presidential Recognition

-As 3rd Top Performer par excellence in 2025

Monrovia, Liberia – April 21, 2026 – The Internal Audit Agency (IAA) of Liberia has been honoured with a prestigious Presidential Recognition as one of the three best-performing entities in the Government of Liberia under the Performance Management and Compliance System (PMCS).

According to the cabinet’s PMCS Secretariat report, IAA achieved full marks in Strategic Plan (50/50), AAID Alignment (25/25), and Resource Mobilization (10/10). Other areas of high performance include: Systems Efficiency (5/5), and Institutional Capacity Building (10/10).

The recognition was received on April 20, 2026, from His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai during the PMCS contract signing ceremony involving Heads of Government Entities. IAA secured the 3rd Top performer par excellence position for the 2025 performance cycle, reflecting its strong commitment to accountability, efficiency, and results-driven public service.

Receiving the award plaque on behalf of the IAA, the Director General, Hon. David A. Kemah, thanked President Boakai for insisting that heads of entities deliver nothing but the best for the people of Liberia. Hon. Kemah also dedicated the recognition to the collective efforts of the IAA’s workforce and emphasized the importance of sustained excellence.

Looking ahead, the Director General reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to continuous improvement and higher performance standards.

Meanwhile, Hon. Kemah disclosed that the IAA has already signed its 2026 PMCS contract with the President, signaling a renewed focus on achieving even greater results. According to him, the entity’s goal for this year is to be number one; thus, beseeching his staff members to get to work and put in their best.

The recognition underscores IAA’s vital role in strengthening public financial management, promoting transparency, and enhancing institutional accountability across government. The Agency has intimated that it remains steadfast in its mission to support good governance and deliver measurable impact in the public sector.

IAA Honors Performance

IAA Honors Per formance: Awards Most Outstanding Employees

The Internal Audit Agency (IAA) of Liberia on Friday, February 6, 2026, held its Annual Awards and Appreciation Day in Paynesville City, honoring several outstanding employees for exceptional performance and dedication to duty. The well-attended event brought together management and staff from the Agency’s three core departments—Administration, Audit Services, and Special Audits—in an atmosphere of celebration, reflection, and renewed commitment.

Presenting awards to deserving staff, IAA Director General, Hon. David A. Kemah emphasized the importance of commitment, discipline, and dedication to every assigned task, describing them as the surest pathway to achieving personal and institutional targets. He called on employees to embrace teamwork, noting that the success of the Agency depends on the collective efforts of all staff. Mr. Kemah likened the IAA to the human body, stressing that just as every part of the body is vital for effective functioning, every employee is equally important to the Agency’s overall performance.

The highlight of the program was the recognition of Mr. Jarwo N. Cooper as STAR STAFF OF THE YEAR 2025, in acknowledgment of his exceptional performance and professional growth. Speaking on behalf of the honorees, Mr. Cooper expressed gratitude to management for the recognition and encouragement; while, urging his colleagues to redouble their efforts in the new year so that they too can be celebrated. Mr. Cooper, who recently qualified as a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), pledged his commitment to supporting colleagues preparing to sit the CIA examinations, emphasizing that knowledge is most valuable when it is shared.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Deputy Director General for Administration, Hon. Mohammed B. Korleh reaffirmed management’s unwavering commitment to supporting staff who aspire to pursue professional certifications. He noted that investing in staff capacity building remains a key strategy toward achieving a professional institution, which is one of the IAA’s core corporate strategic goals.

Meanwhile, Hon. Korleh used the occasion to officially introduce Atty. Elizabeth Horace-Kwemi as the entity’s newly recruited Executive Director for Administration, following a highly competitive recruitment process.

The Awards and Appreciation Day also featured recreational activities, camaraderie, and moments of relaxation by the beach, further strengthening bonds among staff. Management used the occasion to commend all employees for their contributions to advancing the Agency’s mandate and encouraged them to remain steadfast in upholding professionalism, integrity, and excellence in public service delivery.

The event concluded with a renewed sense of motivation and unity, as staff left inspired to contribute even more meaningfully to the growth and success of the Internal Audit Agency in the year ahead.

IAA Gets new Executive Director for Administration

IAA Hires New Executive Director for Administration

Atty. Elizabeth Horace-Kwemi

The Internal Audit Agency (IAA) has recruited Atty. Elizabeth Horace-Kwemi as its new Executive Director for Administration, following a highly competitive recruitment process. Atty. Horace-Kwemi is a seasoned legal and administrative professional whose career spans more than fifteen years of impactful service across Liberia’s public and private sectors. Her appointment marks a strategic step in strengthening the Agency’s administrative leadership, compliance culture, and institutional governance framework.

Atty. Horace-Kwemi joins the IAA with over five years of solid legal practice in litigation, contract negotiation, and business transactions. She previously served as Assistant Legal Counsel at Lex Group Liberia, one of the country’s leading law firms, where she was deeply involved in litigation, corporate advisory services, and commercial transactions. Her public-sector legal experience includes service as Legal Counsel at the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA), where she played a key role in advancing regulatory compliance, enforcement actions, and adherence to statutory mandates, while supporting transparent and accountable institutional decision-making.

Her distinguished public service record also includes roles as Technical Assistant/Chief of Staff to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health and Administrative Program Officer at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, where she supported policy implementation, compliance monitoring, and administrative controls in line with national laws. During Liberia’s response to the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, Atty. Horace-Kwemi served as Deputy Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Manager under the Incident Management System, contributing to high-level coordination, administrative control, and operational oversight during one of the nation’s most critical periods.

Atty. Horace-Kwemi’s academic background reflects a strong multidisciplinary foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia; a Master’s Degree in Peace and Conflict Transformation from the Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation; a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Systems Management from the Galilee International Management Institute in Israel; and a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree in Sociology and Social Work from AMEU. This diverse educational portfolio enhances her analytical approach to risk management, compliance review, and institutional reform, which are core pillars of the IAA’s mandate.

In addition to her legal and public-sector career, she has held managerial and leadership positions with local and international non-governmental organizations, where she designed and implemented programs focused on youth entrepreneurship and community empowerment. Her public service journey began through the Liberia Fellows and President’s Young Professionals (PYP) Program, which laid a strong foundation in public administration and leadership.

With her appointment, the Internal Audit Agency gains a dynamic leader whose blend of legal expertise, administrative acumen, and public-sector experience is expected to further strengthen internal governance systems and support the Agency’s mission of promoting accountability, transparency, and sound management of public resources in Liberia.

IAA Hires ED Audit Services

IAA Hires New Executive Director for Audit Services

Mr. S. Moses Kessellie, Jr.

Moses Kessellie, Jr., is an accomplished accounting and audit professional with over 15 years of experience spanning external and internal auditing in both public and private sectors. He holds professional designations including Chartered Accountant (CA), Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CPFA), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), reflecting his deep commitment to excellence, ethics, and continuous professional development.

Prior to joining IAA, Moses leadership journey recently included serving as Chief Audit Executive at International Bank (Liberia) Limited and the Executive Director of the Liberian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (LICPA)—roles in which I championed strategic reforms, strengthened audit practices, and elevated institutional governance.

He brings comprehensive knowledge of Liberia’s Public Financial Management (PFM) laws, International Accounting Standards (IAS), International Standards on Auditing (ISA), International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), and the Global Internal Audit Standards.

Alongside his professional engagements, he has spent over a decade contributing to academic and professional education, tutoring aspiring accountants, designing specialized training manuals, and lecturing at the tertiary level. His dual focus on practice and instruction reflects a passion for empowering individuals and strengthening the accounting profession through knowledge and mentorship.

His integrity, strategic acumen, and analytical rigor have helped him in advancing transparency, accountability, and professional excellence in both the private and public sectors.

IAA Assesses County Service Centers

Liberia's IAA Assesses County Service Centers Functionality in the Southeast...

Monrovia – As part of its nationwide assessment tour, the  Internal Audit Agency has conducted a week- long  assessment on   Service Centers and public entities in counties  in the southeast.

 The primary focus of the assessment was to evaluate governance and control processes within public entities, which will  inform the IAA’s decision to  establish the internal audit function in those counties.
 
Mr. David A. Kemah, head  of the Internal Audit Agency, led a five – man  team  to Grand Gedeh, Rivergee, and Maryland counties.
 
In releasing his preliminary observations, Mr. Kemah indicated that existing  Service Centers  need to be evaluated for efficiency prior to establishing new ones. 
 
” From our assessment in the South East, there’s a need to conduct training programs  for senior officials managing programs, and suport staff collecting data and generating reports required by the public financial management law.
 
Due to funding challenges, the  effective operations of Service Centers in the counties have not been utilized”, Mr. Kemah revealed.
 
The team met Superintendents, Hospital officials, Administrators of the Counties’ health and educational facilities,  and other officials. 
 
A notable aspect of this assessment has been the positive reception from county officials, many of whom have expressed a desire for stronger collaboration, indicating a recognized local need and willingness for the IAA’s support in strengthening compliance.
 
This local acceptance suggests that county officials themselves recognize the value of internal audit in addressing their operational challenges and strengthening compliance. 
 
The initial policy intent behind establishing CSCs was to enhance local governance and service accessibility, but the efficient operations of some of those County Service Centers are being challenged.
 
It’s against this backdrop, that the  IAA’s deployment to CSCs is therefore crucial for fulfilling the true promise of decentralization by ensuring accountability, transparency, and efficiency at the local level, preventing the very backslide into centralized controls.
 
The deployment of these trained auditors to County Service Centers establishes a direct, on-the-ground presence for real-time monitoring of county development funds. 
 
The third – leg assessment of the IAA with a  focus on the South East ,  witnessed a smooth “Accountability Drive”, without any “Grueling Gauntlet” of torturous road conditions,  
 
Travelling to the South East, was once considered as embarking on a perilous journey through the region’s notorious dilapidated road networks,  but that narrative has changed.
 
For example,  travel times that would have stretched into days, have now reduced to hours,  due to works being done on the roads.
 
From its independent establishment to its strategic nationwide assessments, capacity-building programs, and ongoing deployment, the IAA is not merely auditing; it is actively building a more accountable, transparent, and efficient public sector for all Liberians. 
 
Prior to the assessment mission in the South East, the IAA  assessed and evaluated Service Centers in  Margibi, Bong, Nimba, and Bomi. 
 
Others are: Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu and Lofa counties.
 
The IAA  is indeed helping Liberia “do the Right thing the Right Way,” safeguarding public resources and strengthening the fabric of governance for a prosperous future.

WAIFEM GAI Training Program

IA Delegation Returns From  WAIFEM Generative Artificial Intelligence Training Program in Nigeria

Monrovia, Liberia – The Internal Audit Agency (IAA) has concluded participation in a regional course
on” Enhancing Risk-Based Auditing and Risk Management, through Generative
Artificial Intelligence”. 

The training program was organized by the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), held from May 26 – 30, 2025, at the Central Bank of Nigeria Learning Center, Lagos, Nigeria. 

IAA’s delegation, led by the Executive Director for Special Audits, Jarwo N. Cooper, participated and discussed the following topics: 

Introduction to Generative AI in Risk-Based Auditing, AI-Powered Risk-Based Auditing Technique, Regulatory and Ethical Considerations.

Others included: AI Risk Management Frameworks and Mitigation Strategies, and Implementation and Future Trends, among others.

Those topics were facilitated by highly skilled and experienced professionals, including Dr. Benson Uwheru, Mr. Oladele Adeoye, and Dr. Wenceslaus Nwoga of DataPro Limited, ensuring meaningful engagement for participants. 

The key focus of the five-day training program, was intended to introduce participants to the fundamentals of Generative AI and its application in risk management and risk-based auditing, provide hands-on experience with AI-driven auditing tools and techniques, explore
regulatory, ethical, and governance considerations in AI integration and to build participants’ capacity to identify, assess, and mitigate AI-related risks. 

The delegation described the training program as essential and will enhance efficiency and timely reporting at the IAA.

After acquiring knowledge on how to use Generative Artificial Intelligence to audit, the participants will be required to introduce the following activities at the IAA.

They are: To Establish governance and oversight of AI activities, develop and implement AI policy, align AI with the Risk-Based Audit Strategy and to Integrate AI with continuous auditing, among others.

WAIFEM was established by the central banks of The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone in 1996, with the primary aim of building capacity for improved macroeconomic and financial management in the constituent member countries.

In a related development, another employee of the IAA, was also part of a delegation from Liberia, that participated in a week- long training program on Fiscal Decentralization and Local Management in Liberia, held from May 19- 26, 2025, at the University of Ibadan Post Graduate College
in Nigeria.

The training was sponsored by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.

Topics covered at the training, ranged from the principles of local government, financial management, financial reporting and accountability, accountability mechanisms in local government, transparency and citizens engagement.  

Others included: revenue management and administration, decentralization in Liberia current situation and budgeting principles and processes, among others.

The key focus of the training, is to enhance the capacity of government officials at both central and local levels, in line with the ongoing implementation of the country’s local government law.

Participants are expected to utilize knowledge gained, to go into the various counties to train local officials on revenue sharing regulations and fiscal decentralization.

The delegation was led by Dr. Romeo Gbatea, Director for Fiscal Decentralization at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.

The delegation comprised: The Comptroller and Accounting General of Liberia, Hon. Elwood T. Netty, Deputy Finance Minister for Fiscal Affairs, Hon. Anthony Myers, Deputy Internal Affairs Minister for Operations, Hon. Selena Mappy and Four (4) Superintendents from Grand Bassa, Margibi, Bong and
Nimba Counties.

Also, part of the delegation were representatives from IAA, PPCC and LRA.

Click for Enlarged view

IAA Senior Management Retreat

IAA Convenes Senior Management Retreat -Aligns its Strategic Plan with National Development Agenda

Monrovia, Liberia – The Internal Audit Agency (IAA) of Liberia has begun a three-day Senior Management Retreat in Monrovia, under the Theme: “Aligning the Team on the Long-Term Objectives of the IAA with Clear Strategies and Performance Indicators”. 

The retreat, which commenced Wednesday, January 8, 2025, seeks to align the entity’s five-year Corporate Strategic Plan with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) by adopting clear strategies that will facilitate the achievement of IAA’s objectives. 

Making remarks at the opening of the retreat, the Director General David A. Kemah rallied the concerted efforts of staff members aimed at strengthening collaboration to achieve more in the year ahead. 

Director General Kemah emphasized the need for staff to align the goals of their sectors, sections and units with the broader strategic objectives of the IAA. He described the retreat as an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, strategic planning, sharing insights, and ensuring that every team member is moving in the same direction.

Hon. Kemah further highlighted professional development as a key focus of the IAA in the years ahead, consistent with the IAA’s Strategic Goal #1 which seeks to professionalize the entity by training its staff to perform internal auditing and other administrative support services. 

He reiterated management’s commitment to enhancing the professional qualifications of IAA staff. “We are dedicated to conducting more training sessions aimed at qualifying our auditors as Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), Certified Internal Auditors (CIAs), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Certified Information Systems Auditors (CISAs), and more. This is essential for our mission to elevate the internal audit profession in Liberia”, he stated.

The Director General also assured staff of management’s determination to providing the necessary tools and conducive working environment for effective service delivery. “We recognize the importance of equipping our teams with the right resources, and we will continue to prioritize this as we work towards achieving our goals”, DG Kemah asserted. 

The three days Senior Management retreat has brought together members of the IAA’s Executive Management Team, Executive and Sector Directors, as well as Section and Unit heads. 

It features departmental, sectoral and sectional presentations on achievements, challenges and prospects for the year ahead, while harnessing the insights and expertise of participants to formulate clear strategies and performance indicators for the year.

IAA Performance Management

IAA SIGNS PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT AND CODE OF CONDUCT.

MONROVIA – A  Performance Management Contract and Code of Conduct , introduced by the Boakai’s Administration for all public officials, has been signed by the Director General of the IAA, David A. Kemah.

Mr. David A. Kemah, declared that his signing indicates a commitment to ensuring that the  achievement of   targets set by his  agency,  meets the performance management contract, introduced by President Joseph N. Boakai Administration.

Mr . Kemah also signed the Code of Conduct,  stating it reaffirms his commitment to adherence of  standards and to  be in compliance with laws in the execution of his duty.

The signing ceremony took place on Monday, January 6, 2025,  at the Ministry of State on Capitol Hill.

In October 2024, the Unity Party led government launched the Performance Management and Compliance Strategy at the Ministerial Complex.

It is central to the Administration’s ARREST agenda, focusing on accountability, responsiveness, and responsible governance. 

The system sets clear performance standards for ministries, agencies, and commissions, enabling real-time monitoring and accountability.

IAA Performance Retreat

IAA IS READY TO IMPLEMENT GOVERNMENT'S PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE SYSTEM.

MONROVIA- The Director General of the Internal Audit Agency, David A. Kemah,  has announced that  his  agency is in full readiness,  to effectively implement the  Performance Management and Compliance System , recently launched by the Liberian government.

Mr. Kemah disclosed that the IAA will align its activities  with the new strategy,  to  ensure how performance is measured and monitored..

“The Performance Management and Compliance System, is a new strategy introduced  by the Liberian Government to foster  transparency, accountability, and Good governance in Liberia, and we have carved a plan to help the government achieve its vision”,  stressed DG Kemah. 

He made the disclosure over the weekend at the end of a planning retreat of the Executive Management Team of the Internal Audit Agency outside Monrovia.

The head of the IAA also said at the  official opening of the retreat, that his goal,  is to see  efficiency enhanced at the agency , to  influence  changes in some policies of the government.

Mr. Kemah, among other things,  hopes that at the end of the retreat, the Agency will have a standardized reporting process between Departments like Audit Services and Special Audits, as well as  Administration , Timeline for reporting, Performance measurements, quarterly evaluation of accomplishments,  and evaluation of impacts at public sector entities.

The retreat was held under the theme: “Think, Team, and Tactics(3Ts) for a Professional, Innovative, Efficient, Effective, and Customer-focused Institution”.

The Agency has gone two years into implementation of the strategic plan and  the retreat was held to conduct a positional analysis of the five-year corporate strategic plan to determine  achievements, challenges, opportunities, future plans, required resources and strategies for the next two years. 

The plan contains four strategic goals: Professional Institution, Automated Processes and Systems, Effective Service Delivery and Effective Stakeholder Engagement. 

Upon completion of the  Retreat, IAA’s Executive Management envisages that the  following outcomes will be realized.

They are: 

Accurate, clear, consistent and realistic goals and objectives that aligned with the IAA’s mandate, responsibilities and functions. 

Clear, effective and realistic performance targets and performance indicators at institution, department, operating unit and individual levels. 

Enhanced teamwork and unity of purpose at all levels across the Agency.

Well-branded institution with accuracy, clarity and consistency in representations. 

Adoption and implementation of  wholistic  stakeholder’s approach to planning, executing and reporting on strategic, tactical and operational activities. 

Adequate, proper and secure document and record management system across the Agency. 

Effective risk management system and compliance with Executive Management directives and professional standards across the Agency.

Enhanced employees’ morale and engagement through a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

Meeting stakeholders’ expectations, Special Audits strategy and methodology and strategy for conducting government wide risks , among others. 

The IAA’s Executive Management retreat, which is the first of several events earmarked to properly plan for the ensuing year, commenced on Thursday, December 5th, 2024 and climaxed on  Saturday, December 7, 2024.

IAA  is a public sector audit institution enacted into law in November 2013.

 The Agency has the mandate to establish, direct and control internal audit functions in all public sector entities in Liberia.

 It is responsible for promulgating policies, standards and procedures that guide the practice of internal auditing and internal auditors in the public sector of Liberia.

IAA Takes Giant Leap With Reform Agenda In Liberia

IAA Takes Giant Leap With Reform Agenda In Liberia

-Launches Audit Software, Nat’l Scorecard For Public Sector Entities

The Internal Audit Agency (IAA) has vowed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the processes of Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) of the Government of Liberia.

Speaking at the official Validation Ceremony of its Policies and Procedure documents over the weekend in Gompa city, Nimba County, the Director General of the IAA, Hon. David Kemah, described the gathering as a milestone achievement not just for the IAA, but the entire country.

Director General Kemah conveyed special appreciation to the development partners for the support thus far, as well as, other integrity institutions like the General Auditing Commission and the Public Procurement and Concession Commission for being present at the validation exercise.

Hon. Kemah emphasized that auditors are people of facts who are required to provide relevant information that help clients to do the right things. Thus, the validation of various Policies and Procedures that seek to provide guidance for government entities in the discharge of their mandates.

The Director General further emphasized the need for more training of auditors to improve their capacity to deliver quality services that add value to the activities of client entities.

Hon. Kemah disclosed that his leadership will endeavor to source support from partners particularly for the professional qualification of internal auditors. He named those professional qualifications to include: the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exams, the Chartered Accountant (CA) exams, the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exams, the Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) exams, among others.

Some of the Policies and Procedures that were validated include: the IAA’s five-year Strategic Plan, the National Compliance Checklist for all public entities, the National Scorecard template and the Internal Auditing Manual. Other documents validated include: the IAA’s Regulations, the Audit Procedures and Operational Manual, the Financial Procedures Manual, the Human Resources Manual, among others.