Auditor-General’s Report Flags Missing Payment of US$1,444,000 by Zoodlabs (SL) Limited.

The Auditor-General’s Report on Sierra Leone’s accounts for the financial year ending 31st December 2023 has raised questions about the compliance of Zoodlabs (SL) Limited with its financial obligations to the state.

The report revealed that Zoodlabs was required to pay an annual fixed fee of US$1,444,000 into the Consolidated Fund for managing the ACE Submarine Fibre Optic Cable Landing Station and related infrastructure.

However, according to the findings presented in Parliament on 17th December 2024, there is no evidence that this payment was made for the period under review. This has sparked concerns about transparency and accountability in the handling of critical national assets.

Zoodlabs assumed control of the ACE Submarine Fibre Optic Cable in 2020, following the unbundling of the Sierra Leone Cable Limited (SALCAB). The 15-year contract governing this arrangement was signed between Zoodlabs and the Ministry of Information and Communications in December 2020 and later ratified by Parliament in 2022.

The report’s findings have prompted calls for further investigation to ensure compliance with the terms of the agreement and to protect public resources.

The ACE Submarine Fibre Optic Cable is a vital component of Sierra Leone’s telecommunications infrastructure, and any failure to uphold contractual obligations could have far-reaching implications for the sector.

Stakeholders are now urging authorities to address the issue and ensure that the necessary payments are made to the Consolidated Fund as stipulated in the agreement.