AFROSAI-E Governing Board and Strategic Review Convene in Liberia
From 18 to 22 May 2026, AFROSAI-E members gathered in Monrovia, Liberia, for the 22nd Governing Board Meeting and 2026 Strategic Review, hosted by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) of Liberia. The week brought together Auditors General, senior leaders, development partners and technical experts from across the region to reflect on progress, shape future priorities and explore how Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) can continue to deliver greater value for citizens.
Under the Strategic Review theme, “Value-Adding Audits”, delegates examined how audit institutions can strengthen accountability, improve public sector performance and respond to increasingly complex governance challenges.
Governing Board Sets Strategic Direction
The week began with two days of Governing Board deliberations, during which members reviewed organisational performance and adopted several key resolutions.
Among the decisions taken were the approval of AFROSAI-E’s 2025 Annual Report and the 2025 State of the Region: ICBF Self-Assessment Report. Recognising the importance of institutional capacity development, the Board resolved that each SAI should develop an action plan to address recommendations arising from the ICBF assessment process. The Secretariat was also tasked with strengthening engagement with SAI leadership on ICBF findings and increasing emphasis on the framework within capacity-building initiatives.
The Board further encouraged member SAIs to benchmark their national legislation against the AFROSAI-E Model Audit Act to address ongoing challenges related to independence.
Leadership elections were also held. The Auditor General of Kenya was re-elected Chairperson for a two-year term ending after the 2028 Strategic Review, while the Auditor General of Sierra Leone was elected Vice-Chairperson for a three-year term ending after the 2029 Strategic Review. Members also confirmed that SAI Ethiopia will host the next Governing Board Meeting in May 2027.
The formal programme was complemented by a historical city tour hosted by SAI Liberia and a welcome dinner, providing opportunities for networking and strengthening regional relationships.
Annual Reports Now Available
The AFROSAI-E 2025 Annual Report and its two annexures, the 2025 Monitoring and Evaluation Report and the 2025 Annual Financial Statements, as well as the 2025 State of the Region: ICBF Self-Assessment Report, are now available on our website.
These reports provide valuable insights into AFROSAI-E’s achievements, regional trends in institutional capacity development, and the progress of member SAIs across the region.
Read the reports here: www.afrosai-e.org.za/publications
A Call for Strong, Independent and Forward-Looking SAIs
The Strategic Review opened with a welcoming ceremony featuring distinguished speakers from Liberia and across the AFROSAI-E region.
In his opening remarks, Auditor General P. Garswa Jackson Sr. highlighted the continued growth of Liberia’s General Auditing Commission, including expanded audit coverage, stronger follow-up mechanisms and ongoing efforts to improve accountability and service delivery.
AFROSAI-E Chairperson Nancy Gathungu reflected on the first year of the organisation’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, emphasising the importance of collaboration among SAIs in addressing common challenges such as rising public debt, climate pressures, digital transformation and increasing citizen expectations. She underscored the growing role of digital tools and data analytics in helping auditors provide timely, evidence-based oversight. [Read the full speech]
The opening ceremony was further elevated by remarks from His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, who reaffirmed the importance of accountability, transparency and integrity in public administration. He highlighted the critical role of external audit in strengthening public trust and ensuring that public resources are used for the benefit of citizens.
Delegates were also inspired by a keynote address from former Liberian President and Nobel Laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who reflected on the importance of courageous leadership and strong institutions in combating corruption and advancing sustainable development.
Celebrating Excellence in Performance Auditing
A highlight of the week was the announcement of the AFROSAI-E Best Performance Audit Report Prize for 2025, presented by the Auditor General of Sweden, Christina Gellerbrant-Hagberg.
This year’s competition attracted eight nominated audits from Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania and Uganda, showcasing the growing quality and impact of performance auditing across the region.
The 2025 prize was awarded to the Office of the Auditor-General of Kenya for its performance audit of the Kenya Urban Support Programme Phase 1. The audit was recognised for its rigorous methodology, extensive fieldwork and balanced assessment of a complex public programme focused on urban governance and infrastructure development.
The award highlighted the important contribution performance auditing continues to make in improving accountability, strengthening public programmes and delivering better outcomes for citizens.
Read the full news release here.
“The quality and relevance of the reports submitted for this year’s Performance Audit Prize demonstrate the growing strength of performance auditing across the AFROSAI-E region. Across the region, 171 performance audit reports were produced in 2025, covering issues that directly affect citizens’ daily lives, including infrastructure, service delivery, governance, and the effective use of public resources. The winning audit is a strong example of how SAIs can provide independent insight into complex, high-impact areas such as infrastructure development and donor-funded projects, ultimately contributing to greater accountability and improved outcomes for citizens.” – AFROSAI-E CEO, Meisie Nkau
Reflecting on Progress Under the 2025–2029 Strategic Plan
AFROSAI-E CEO, Meisie Nkau, provided members with an overview of progress made during the first year of the organisation’s Strategic Plan’s implementation.
The update highlighted significant levels of activity and engagement across the region, with 195 capacity-building activities implemented during 2025, reaching approximately 3,450 SAI staff members. Encouragingly, 89% of the strategic plan indicators remain on track.
Central to the presentation was AFROSAI-E’s Theory of Change, which recognises that lasting institutional strengthening depends not only on support provided by the Secretariat, but also on the commitment of member SAIs to embed and sustain improvements within their own organisations.
Auditing for Sustainable Development
A presentation by UNDP Sustainable Finance Adviser Moortaza Jiwanji explored the role of SAIs in supporting the financing and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The session examined how auditors can add value throughout the public finance cycle by assessing whether budgets, spending decisions and government programmes are aligned with development priorities. Drawing on examples from across Africa and beyond, the discussion demonstrated how audit work can contribute to more effective, transparent and equitable use of public resources.
Harnessing Data Analytics to Enhance Audit Impact
One of the Strategic Review’s most engaging technical discussions focused on the growing role of data analytics in public sector auditing.
Presentations from South Africa, Liberia and Lesotho highlighted how data-driven approaches are helping auditors identify risks, expand audit coverage, uncover systemic weaknesses and generate deeper insights. Delegates discussed the skills, investments and partnerships required to sustain these efforts, while also acknowledging challenges such as data quality, technological limitations and change management.
A recurring message throughout the session was that data analytics enhances auditor judgement rather than replacing it, and that meaningful progress often begins with small, practical pilot projects.
Strengthening Oversight of Public Debt
A second major technical theme explored the role of SAIs in auditing public debt.
Former IMF Deputy Managing Director and former Liberian Minister of Finance, Madame Antoinette Monsio Sayeh, delivered a thought-provoking address on transparency, accountability and sustainability in debt management. She emphasised the importance of strong audit mandates, institutional independence and ensuring that audit findings lead to meaningful corrective action.
Subsequent presentations from Liberia, Zambia, Ghana and Uganda examined practical approaches to auditing public debt, including assessing debt management controls, monitoring debt sustainability indicators and addressing risks associated with fragmented information systems.
Discussions reinforced the growing importance of public debt audits in supporting informed fiscal decision-making and safeguarding future generations.
Partner Perspectives on Regional Development
Representatives from key partner organisations, including the Office of the Auditor General of Norway, the INTOSAI Development Initiative, the Netherlands Court of Audit and the Swedish National Audit Office, reflected on their ongoing collaboration with AFROSAI-E and member SAIs.
The session underscored the importance of long-standing partnerships in supporting institutional strengthening and encouraged members to actively participate in global initiatives and surveys that help elevate regional priorities on the international stage.
Celebrating Liberia’s Culture and Hospitality
The week concluded with a cultural excursion hosted by SAI Liberia, offering delegates an opportunity to experience the country’s rich history, natural beauty and renowned hospitality.
Visits to the Liberia Maritime Training Institute, Kokon Ecolodge and Libassa Ecolodge provided memorable experiences, from learning about Liberia’s maritime sector to exploring coastal ecosystems and enjoying traditional music, dance and cuisine.
The excursion served as a fitting conclusion to a week characterised not only by strategic discussions and professional learning, but also by the strengthening of friendships, partnerships and regional cooperation across the AFROSAI-E community.
As delegates departed Monrovia, they carried with them renewed insights, strengthened relationships and a shared commitment to ensuring that audit work continues to add value and improve the lives of citizens across the region.
