85 Motor Bikes Go Missing at Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has been instructed by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to account for 85 missing motorbikes.

The issue arose during the PAC’s examination of the 2023 Auditor General’s report, which identified the unaccounted assets within the ministry.

Honorable Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, a member of the PAC, inquired about the whereabouts of the official under scrutiny regarding the missing motorbikes. A ministry official informed the committee that the individual is currently out of the country.

The ministry official stated that two lists, one for vehicles and another for motorbikes, were provided to the chairman. However, the chairman reported not receiving the list of motorbikes. The official further explained that the bikes were assigned to various individuals, but they lack registration numbers.

In response to Hon. Conteh’s inquiry, the ministry official confirmed that the individuals assigned the motorbikes include both staff members and agro-dealers. Hon. Conteh noted that these lists should have been separated.

The ministry official requested permission to submit a comprehensive list. Hon. Conteh instructed the officials to cease dealings with the agro-dealers involved and directed that the salaries of ministry staff members in possession of the motorbikes be blocked by the Human Resource Manager’s Office until the assets are returned.

In a separate matter, the PAC revealed that two individuals, Mr. F.S. Kanu and Christian Bangura, have not returned their assigned vehicles following the completion of a project linking farmers to the market. The ministry official stated that Mr. Kanu is reportedly in Makeni.

Hon. Conteh instructed that the names of Mr. Kanu and Mr. Bangura be included in a circular, and their vehicles should be impounded by the police or the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) if located.

Additionally, Hon. Conteh directed that the salaries of the former Permanent Secretary, Andrew Sourie, and the Director of Finance, Mr. Yokie, at the ministry be withheld.