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Parliament has issued a stern warning to the Anti-Corruption Commissioner, directing him to immediately cease any involvement with the Auditor General’s Report for 2023 until Parliament has completed its review and made a determination.
The legislative body emphasized that the report is the exclusive property of Parliament, which holds the authority to scrutinize and make decisions regarding its findings.
In an official letter to the ACC Commissioner Parliament referenced Section 119(4) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991, Act No. 6, which stipulates that the Auditor General must submit the report to Parliament within twelve months of the end of the financial year.
The report is intended to highlight any irregularities in the audited accounts and other matters deemed significant for parliamentary attention.
“We have taken note of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s recent press conference and feel compelled to remind the Commissioner of the constitutional provisions.
The Auditor General’s report belongs solely to Parliament, and it is our responsibility to conduct hearings and scrutinize the report before determining any further action, including the recovery of funds or referrals for prosecution,” the press release stated.
Parliament underscored that the responsibility for the report lies exclusively with them, and any legislation empowering accountability bodies like the ACC does not extend to the direct investigation of the Auditor General’s findings without parliamentary oversight.
Section 108(8) of the Constitution does not confer such authority to the ACC or any other body regarding the Auditor General’s report.
The release further clarified that Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, as per Section 119(5) of the Constitution and Standing Order SO 70, is mandated to investigate and conduct public hearings on the report’s findings. The Committee will then report to Parliament, which will determine the appropriate actions, including referring corrupt practices for further investigation and prosecution by the ACC.
Parliament expressed its intention to collaborate with the ACC in accordance with the Constitution and emphasized that the process must adhere to the legal framework to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure proper handling of the Auditor General’s report.
