Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has issued a detailed response to the 2024 Auditor General’s Report, addressing specific financial queries levied against the Office of the Chief Minister regarding undocumented withdrawals, procurement gaps, and staff verification.

In a statement released via “The Chief’s Diary,” Dr. Sengeh defended his seven-year record in government, asserting that his office has faced “no scandals” and that the issues highlighted in the recent report have been largely cleared by the auditors.

Clarification on Financial Queries The Auditor General’s report raised three primary concerns regarding the Office of the Chief Minister: bank withdrawals without supporting documents, missing procurement files, and staff availability for physical verification.

Addressing the query on Bank Withdrawals (2.47.1), the report initially flagged a total of NLe12,471,107.21. According to the Chief Minister, documentation was successfully submitted for NLe11.6 million of that amount. The outstanding balance of NLe800,000, he explained, was disbursed to the military for the protection of the Western Area Park and the demolition of illegal structures.

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“While the military couldn’t provide us all the documents, we know they delivered on the action,” Sengeh stated. “It’s hard to provide documents for feeding and morale boosting of troops fighting illegal land grabbers.” The Auditor’s comment noted that this issue is now considered “substantially resolved.”

Regarding Procurement Documents (2.47.2), the audit questioned NLe4,786,206.51. Sengeh reported that documents were subsequently provided for NLe4.3 million, leaving an outstanding balance of NLe445,106.75 related to the printing of T-shirts and the purchase of cleaning supplies. This query was also marked by the Auditor as “substantially resolved.”

The third issue involved Staff Verification (2.47.3), where salaries totaling NLe76,896 were paid to staff who were not present for physical verification. Of the 18 staff initially queried, Sengeh clarified that only four—two drivers and two office assistants—remained unverified. He attributed this to staff being deployed to other locations or outdated staff lists. The Auditor marked this issue as “partially resolved.”

Commitment to Accountability Dr. Sengeh pushed back against critics using the report as a “political tool,” urging the public to read the full report—specifically the “Auditor’s Comment,” which represents the final conclusion.

“The audit report delivers on accountability,” Sengeh wrote. “I love accountability and transparency. This is why my team is actively working on improving how documents are filed and updated.”

The Chief Minister highlighted his tenure leading the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), noting that he has managed significant portions of the government budget with a focus on clean audits.

The Office of the Chief Minister reiterated its commitment to the National Development Plan and stated that the government welcomes the scrutiny provided by the Audit Service Sierra Leone.