Honourable Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Public Account Committee, has issued a directive to Mustapha Sannoh, Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), ordering him to refund NLe48,450 within 14 days.

The directive also mandates the CFO to provide Parliament with a receipt after making the payment. Failure to comply could result in the arrest of both the CFO and the Director-General.

The move comes after revelations by auditor Moses Lansana that EDSA received the sum from Freetown Gulf Club as part of their corporate social responsibility, with some board members having ties to the club. The Deputy Speaker emphasized that the Freetown Gulf Club was financially capable of supporting themselves without relying on EDSA funds.

Auditor Lansana disclosed that the payment lacked supporting documents, raising concerns about transparency. Despite the CFO’s assertion of possessing relevant documents, the auditor stated that EDSA failed to produce them. The CFO, in response, highlighted the government’s substantial outstanding debt to EDSA as a major challenge.

The Director-General of EDSA assured that the organization had no intention of violating the law, emphasizing the difficulty faced due to non-payment of electricity supply bills by various government agencies. This unfolding saga underscores the importance of financial accountability and transparency within public entities, prompting parliamentary intervention to ensure adherence to proper procedures and documentation.