A new report by Sierra Leone’s Auditor General has uncovered serious financial mismanagement at the country’s Embassy in Washington DC, revealing that millions of dollars collected in consular fees and unclaimed salaries were not paid into government accounts.

The 2024 Auditor General’s Report, which covers the financial years from 2022 to 2024, shows that the embassy collected a total of US$1.84 million in consular revenue during the period under review. However, only US$205,000 of that amount was paid into Sierra Leone’s Consolidated Fund, representing just 11 percent of the total revenue collected.

According to the report, there was a persistent failure by the responsible authorities to ensure that the funds were properly accounted for and transferred to the state. “Despite repeated recommendations over the years, there was no evidence of efforts made by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to ensure that all revenue collected by the Embassy are fully paid,” the Auditor General stated.

The audit also identified a separate financial lapse involving staff salaries at the embassy. An amount of US$73,000, paid as salaries for a local staff member, remained unclaimed and was not deposited back into government accounts. Auditors raised concerns about the handling of the funds, warning that “the funds could have been converted for personal use without authority.”

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The report attributes these lapses to weak oversight and poor internal controls at the diplomatic mission, noting that such failures expose public funds to the risk of misuse.

In response to the findings, the Auditor General issued specific directives to the relevant institutions. The report instructed the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “put adequate mechanisms in place to safeguard revenue generated” by Sierra Leone’s foreign missions.

It further ordered the Head of Chancery at the Washington DC embassy to immediately remit all consular fees to the Consolidated Fund and to seek approval from the Ministry of Finance before making any expenditure related to those revenues.

The Financial Attaché at the embassy was also directed to deposit the unclaimed US$73,000 salary without delay, in line with public financial management regulations.

The findings once again draw attention to long-standing accountability challenges within Sierra Leone’s diplomatic missions abroad. The Auditor General’s report warns that without stronger controls and enforcement of existing rules, revenue generated from the country’s diaspora remains vulnerable to diversion, undermining ongoing efforts to promote transparency and prudent management of public funds.

The Auditor General’s Office said it will continue to monitor compliance with its recommendations in subsequent audits.