The Transparency and Accountability Committee of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, led by Chief Whip Hon. Dickson Momoh Rogers, has demanded that the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) office in Pujehun District provide an account of millions of leones spent without proper documentation.

According to the committee’s findings, approximately 30 million old leones were withdrawn from the bank without clear justification. Additionally, the report highlighted expenditures including 11.5 million leones on refreshments and 22 million leones on vehicle rentals for the distribution of teachers’ materials, all of which lacked adequate supporting paperwork.

During questioning by the committee, MBSSE’s finance officer, Finnah Mansaray, admitted that many of the highlighted activities had not been executed, and funds were withdrawn based on directives from her superior, Deputy Director Alammy Kamara.

In response, the committee has directed MBSSE representatives to reimburse all unaccounted funds to the Consolidated Fund. The committee further instructed the Clerk to enforce this mandate and provide receipts for review during subsequent hearings.

This revelation has sparked widespread condemnation among stakeholders who have long demanded heightened transparency and accountability in public fund management. The MBSSE, tasked with the crucial responsibility of educating the nation’s youth, now faces intensified scrutiny over apparent financial irregularities.

The actions of the Transparency and Accountability Committee underscore the government’s commitment to combatting corruption and ensuring proper utilization of public resources. As investigations progress, the public eagerly awaits the outcomes and potential repercussions for those implicated in the unauthorized expenditures.