MONROVIA, Liberia – The General Service Agency will begin publishing the names of individuals who misuse government vehicles assigned to them. Mary Broh, the head of the agency, discussed this initiative at Thursday’s Information Ministry daily press briefing in Monrovia. Broh warned that the misuse and abuse of vehicles and other mobile equipment had increased to “an unacceptable level” at a significant cost to taxpayers.

“Empirical data available to us at the GSA shows that the use of government vehicles and other mobile equipment is completely out of control and their support cost is significantly more than the benefits received by the Government of Liberia,” Broh said.

Broh said that the GSA developed an initial fleet management policy in 2009 which was subsequently approved by the cabinet. The fleet policy provides a strategic framework for reducing capital, maintenance, and running costs of government fleet mobile equipment while also ensuring mobility and operational efficiencies to government employees and others. It further provides guidance to government institutions on the procurement, registration, use, maintenance and management of vehicles and other mobile equipment.

A vehicle belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture. Photo: Flickr’s ladybugblue

An essential component of the policy encourages vehicle ownership by civil and public servants. Broh explained, “The policy allows [officials] of government to purchase vehicles entrusted to their care in line with the depreciation schedule and approved revenue code of Liberia. Once the vehicle is [provided] to its user, the government [would no longer be responsible] for its maintenance, including insurance.”

Initially, this policy was administered smoothly. Resistance to the policy began when Broh notified ministries, agencies and commissions that her office would recommend for prosecution, anyone who used public funds to service the vehicles.

The stern communication aimed to support austerity measures and reallocate resources to other priority areas.

In order to encourage adherence to these policies, Broh announced a program “to name and shame abusers of the government of Liberia’s assets” in print and electronic media.

Featured photo: Jeff Topham