Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Sierra Leone are calling for greater transparency following the conclusion of a tribunal that investigated Auditor General Lara Taylor-Pearce and her deputy, Tamba Momoh.

The tribunal investigated allegations of “professional misconduct” against Taylor-Pearce and Momoh, stemming from their contact with third parties during an audit of the Office of the President. Specifically, they were accused of contacting hotels in Lebanon, South Africa, and The Gambia to verify receipts without explicit approval from the President’s office.

While the tribunal has completed its work and submitted its report to the President on June 12th, there has been no public communication regarding the findings or next steps. The CSOs emphasize that due to the public nature of the investigation, the principles of fairness and transparency require that the findings be made public and communicated to both Ms. Taylor-Pearce and Mr. Momoh.

“This transparency is crucial to ensure the fairness of the process and to address the growing concerns about the tribunal’s proceedings,” the CSOs stated.

The coalition of CSOs includes the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), the 50/50 Group Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), and the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ).