ACC Ready to Investigate Office of the President Over Alleged Fake Receipts After Parliament’s Review, Says Patrick Sandy

In a recent interview on AYV Television, Patrick Sandy, spokesperson for Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), stated that the ACC is prepared to investigate the Office of the President if necessary, following the conclusion of Parliament’s ongoing review of audit reports.

The conversation arose in connection with allegations of fake receipts emanating from the Office of the President, sparking public interest and concerns about accountability.

The issue stems from a 2021 audit report that highlighted potential misconduct involving receipts managed by individuals within the Office of the President. Although the former Auditor General and her deputy were initially linked to the investigations, Sandy clarified that the focus is not on them but on the alleged manipulation of receipts by other individuals within the office. These allegations have raised questions about the transparency of financial practices within Sierra Leone’s highest office.

Sandy emphasized that while the ACC has not yet initiated a direct probe into these allegations, it is closely monitoring the process. “We have not yet gone into it, but that doesn’t mean we are not going to look at it,” Sandy explained. He stressed that the ACC is awaiting the outcome of the parliamentary hearings before taking any action. He noted that Parliament, particularly the Public Accounts Committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, has the primary responsibility to address the concerns raised in the audit report. “If Parliament is doing their job, why can’t they be given the responsibility to do it?” Sandy said, reiterating the ACC’s commitment to respecting the roles of other institutions in the country’s governance framework.

Sandy also responded to the public’s expectation that the ACC should be the first to act on allegations of corruption. He pointed out that the ACC’s role is not to preempt the work of Parliament but to intervene where clear acts of corruption have been identified. “We definitely have to slow down because that is their primary responsibility,” he added, emphasizing that the ACC works in tandem with Parliament to ensure due process is followed.