The Offices of the President, Vice President, and Chief Minister have been summoned by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to respond to audit queries raised in the latest Audit Service Report.

Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the PAC, confirmed that formal letters have been sent to these high-level offices, requiring them to appear before the committee for scrutiny. He emphasized that the PAC has jurisdiction over all government institutions, including the most senior executive offices, and is committed to ensuring accountability.

“No institution is beyond our reach. That is why we have written to the Offices of the President, Vice President, and Chief Minister, asking them to appear before the committee,” Hon. Conteh stated.

He warned that any official found culpable in the audit queries would be required to reimburse the missing funds, stressing that financial mismanagement would not be tolerated. The committee, he said, will conduct thorough engagements with these offices to address the concerns raised by auditors and ensure that public funds are properly accounted for.

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Hon. Conteh also highlighted persistent financial irregularities among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including poor record-keeping, procurement violations, and large-scale financial mismanagement.

He expressed frustration over the repeated failure of MDAs to provide satisfactory explanations when questioned, adding that such lapses undermine government development efforts.

“We are not here for unnecessary excuses. Any institution or official that has misused public funds must be ready to return what belongs to the people,” he asserted.

The PAC Chairman further clarified that the committee’s primary focus is not on reviewing documents but on recovering lost funds and channeling them back into the Consolidated Revenue Fund. He urged MDAs and private entities to ensure their financial records are in order before appearing before the committee.

“Our only interest is to recover the state’s money. We will not compromise, and we will not stop until every missing cent is accounted for,” Hon. Conteh reiterated.

He also commended the dedication of PAC members, pointing out that unlike the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which retains a percentage of recovered funds, the PAC does not benefit financially from the money it retrieves.

“Despite receiving no additional incentives beyond our salaries, we remain steadfast in our national duty to ensure financial accountability,” he said.

The PAC’s latest efforts signal a strong stance on financial transparency and could set a new precedent for holding even the highest offices in government accountable for public funds.