The President of the Republic, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah, says good governance is sine qua non to sustainable national development.
Addressing the Second ECOWAS/Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa (ABWA) Joint Congress Thursday, March 17, 2022, at the Farmington Hotel, President Weah said the organizers were not wrong to choose the theme “Good Governance and Sustainable Development for Regional Prosperity” as the sub-region is searching for lasting solutions to the many problems of underdevelopment that are common to all the member States of ECOWAS.
He added that the theme corresponds with the core of the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s 2063 aspirations for Africa.
He reminded the conferees that it was high time leaders of the sub-region satisfied present needs of citizens without compromising the ability of future generations to eventually satisfy theirs in order to achieve and maintain sustainable development.
President Weah said it is equally important that Member States ensure sustainable development in the sub-region, insisting that the continent itself must be based on the choices they make, and the processes by which these choices are made.
“This will not only ensure that there is broad consensus and acceptance of the governance processes that are used in our decision-making, but will also enable us to achieve stable and long-term economic growth, proportionate balanced economic, social development, and beneficial employment policies,” the President noted.
He continued, “We will also be able to see a reduction of regional differences, growth of personal income and consumption, preservation of the environment for future generations, and efficient use and allocation of natural resources as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
President Weah hailed the importance of the accountancy profession in countries of the ECOWAS Sub-region, saying that accountancy professionals, whether in the private or public sector, provide accounting expertise to guide financial planning and to maintain fiscal discipline.
He said accountants lead or assist their institutions with the development and implementation of their corporate strategy and advisory services, instituting “measures to reduce costs by being efficient in their services, and mitigate and hedge against various types of risks, while maintaining high ethical standards”.
He underscored that accounting forms the core of public trust, confidence and value, and provides the basis for transparency and probity in governance systems.
The Joint Congress, according to the Liberian Leader, is dedicated to showcasing the potential and strength of the accountancy profession in Liberia, the West African sub-region, and beyond.
He emphasized that the Congress is intended to enhance the economic growth of both the private and public sectors of our regional block through the development of professional networks of competence and high standards.
“I believe that conferences and congresses, such as this one, provide a basis for knowledge-sharing amongst professional networks and can serve to advance the prospects of standardization and uplift the quality of the practice of accountancy within our sub-region,” he stated.
The President, who said he was honored by the invitation extended him to serve as keynote speaker at the conference, welcomed the conferees to Monrovia, and wished them a pleasant and enjoyable stay.
He expressed delight that Liberia has been chosen as the venue for the important and historic regional event, the 2nd Joint Congress of the Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) and the Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa (ABWA).
He commended the ECOWAS Commission and ABWA for this joint initiative.
The President also commended the leadership of the Liberian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (LICPA) for its diligence and steadfastness in working with other regional professionals to host this historic Joint Congress in Liberia for the first time.