By eric.george@awokonewspapersl.com
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has officially tabled its report on the 2021 and 2022 Auditor General’s Reports in Parliament for review and adoption.
Presenting the report on behalf of the committee’s chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, the Deputy Chairman, Honourable Paramount Chief (PC) Desmond Mahayei Kargobai, underscored the extensive scrutiny that went into compiling the document. The session, presided over by Hon. Conteh, took place during the parliamentary plenary sitting on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
Hon. PC Kargobai informed the House that the report was the culmination of extensive public hearingsheld in Freetown and across Sierra Leone’s regional headquarters. During these hearings, government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Local Councils, Public Enterprises, and Donor-Funded Projects were all subjected to rigorous examination.
Highlighting the critical financial discrepanciesuncovered during the audit review, he pointed out major concerns, including:
- Revenue irregularities
- Procurement breaches
- Payroll anomalies
- Substandard project execution
These findings, he noted, were assessed in alignment with the 1991 Sierra Leone Constitution (Act No. 6 of 1991) and the Revised Standing Orders (SOs) of Parliament (2006).
In a significant demonstration of accountability and financial prudence, Hon. PC Kargobai revealed that the committee had successfully facilitated the recovery of over NLe 23 million while addressing 70.2% of audit queries. He credited this achievement to effective collaboration among PAC members, government institutions, and the Auditor General’s office.
Before officially tabling the report for consideration, Hon. PC Kargobai expressed appreciation for the Auditor General’s office, the PAC Secretariat, fellow committee members, and cooperating institutions for their dedication to improving transparency and financial management in Sierra Leone.
With Parliament now set to deliberate on the report, its findings and recommendations are expected to shape critical reforms aimed at enhancing fiscal discipline across government entities. SEG/31/3/2025
