Africa-Press – Liberia. In modern auditing, an Unqualified Report signifies a clean bill of financial health — meaning an institution’s books are transparent, accurate, and free from material misstatements or fraud. It is the highest assurance an auditor can give, confirming that the organization’s financial statements are fair and credible.
However, several media outlets have grossly misrepresented this technical term in the Auditor General’s 2022 report on the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), misleading the public into believing it reflected wrongdoing, Contrary to such false claims, the report from the General Auditing Commission (GAC), signed by Auditor General P. Garswa Jackson, gave NASSCORP an unqualified opinion, not a negative finding. Reflecting similar report from the 2023 audit report as well.
Reacting to the distortion, the Civil Society Council of Liberia, led by Mark Mula, condemned the publications as “reckless and deceptive journalism” aimed at discrediting the integrity of a public institution that has demonstrated accountability.
“The auditor’s letter clearly commended NASSCORP’s financial transparency. To twist that into scandal is malicious and irresponsible,” Mula said. “An unqualified report is a confirmation of sound financial management, not a charge of corruption.”
The Council stressed that such misinformation undermines public confidence and the “tremendous efforts” made by NASSCORP’s management to strengthen accountability and compliance with government financial reporting standards.
Civil society further called on the media to uphold professional ethics and accuracy when reporting on technical audit findings, warning that careless misinterpretation of official documents only serves to confuse the public and damage reputations built on integrity.
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