Deputy Speaker and PAC Chairman Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh has announced a mandatory fine of Le 5,000 for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that fail to provide necessary documents during financial audits.

This announcement was made on October 24, 2024, during PAC’s review of the Auditor General’s reports for the financial years 2021 and 2022.

Hon. Conteh emphasized that the fine will take effect in the upcoming financial audit year, aiming to enhance accountability within the public sector.

He noted that delays in investigations stem from the simultaneous review of two audit years and the reluctance of some MDAs to furnish relevant documentation.

Concluding these reviews before the publication of the 2023 Audit Report is essential to avoid overburdening the committee.

Additionally, the PAC discovered discrepancies involving 75 NGOs listed by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) that had not made the requisite payments to the National Revenue Authority (NRA), amounting to an expected revenue of Le 182,500.

An auditor recommended that MoPED’s Development Secretary provide proof of payment, or else the fees should be recovered from the NGOs.

Currently, 72 of the 75 NGOs are reported as having paid, but issues with incomplete documentation for the remaining three have led to uncertainty about whether payments were made to the correct NRA accounts.

A MoPED representative clarified that the Ministry does not handle payments but ensures they are made to the NRA’s designated accounts.

Following this clarification, the committee considers the matter resolved, reinforcing a commitment to transparency and accountability in managing public funds in Sierra Leone.