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The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has directed key officials of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) to refund a sum of three thousand five hundred pounds. This amount was allegedly misallocated for the educational expenses of two staff members intended to study in London.
The directive was issued on July 25, 2024, during a public hearing on the Auditor General’s Report. Members of parliament, part of the committee, unanimously agreed that the money should be reimbursed to the SLRSA account.
Deputy Speaker Conteh stipulated that the refund must be completed by the end of August and that all necessary documentation must be provided to facilitate this refund. The investigation revealed that the payment of seven thousand pounds was made for two staff members to study in London. However, documentation approved only one staff member, and the total amount paid was seven thousand pounds, translating to three thousand five hundred pounds per person.
Joseph H. Momoh, the Director of Finance, clarified that the payment was indeed intended for two staff members, but only one received a visa. The Director of Human Resources, Josie Abraham Scott-Manga, did not secure a visa. The institution was informed about this visa issue, and an alternative candidate was proposed, although it remains unclear if this substitution occurred.
The Auditor General’s Report highlighted that a total of SLE 3,473,266.63 was spent by the SLRSA on various activities without adequate supporting documentation, such as receipts, invoices, delivery notes, distribution lists, air tickets, and service level agreements. During a verification exercise, documents accounting for SLE 3,223,978.17, representing 93% of the queried amount, were submitted. This left a balance of SLE 249,288.46 unresolved, which the report indicates was “substantially resolved.”
Additionally, the SLRSA had other unresolved issues related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Although some CSR-related concerns were addressed, others remain pending. The institution is expected to provide further explanations to the parliament on a future date yet to be communicated.
This directive from the PAC underscores the importance of accountability and transparency within government agencies, ensuring that public funds are appropriately allocated and managed.
