Solomon Sundu Urges Stronger Scrutiny of Public Officials’ Wealth and Government Spending
Alex Fefegula Harding Executive Director of Bianquay Foundation SL, Solomon Sundu, has called for stronger scrutiny of public officials’ wealth and government expenditure, arguing that weaknesses in asset monitoring and parliamentary oversight could undermine accountability efforts.
Speaking during a discussion on Sierra Leone’s performance under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) indicators, Sundu questioned whether the country’s asset declaration system effectively tracks changes in the financial positions of public officials, particularly members of Parliament.
He argued that submitting an initial declaration does not provide sufficient assurance that officials’ wealth is being monitored throughout their time in public office.
Sundu questioned whether the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) adequately tracks subsequent acquisitions of houses, vehicles and other assets to establish whether they correspond with officials’ legitimate sources of income.
However, he cautioned against treating increased wealth as automatic evidence of corruption, noting that public officials may also acquire assets through salaries, employment benefits, bank loans, private businesses and other legitimate financial arrangements.
He maintained that authorities should assess whether an individual’s accumulated wealth is reasonably consistent with their declared income and financial resources.
Sundu also raised concerns about the working relationship between the ACC and Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), calling for greater coordination in examining financial irregularities identified in audit reports.
While recognising the PAC’s role in scrutinising ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), he suggested that clearer oversight arrangements could strengthen accountability and ensure that audit findings receive appropriate attention.
He further identified the implementation of government-funded projects, particularly road construction, as another area requiring closer examination.
According to Sundu, anti-corruption efforts should extend beyond asset declarations to include monitoring public expenditure, examining project implementation and ensuring that government institutions follow established financial and administrative procedures.
His remarks made during the interview on ecko media on the 12th of November 2026 highlighted the importance of strengthening asset verification, institutional cooperation and public expenditure oversight as Sierra Leone continues its efforts to improve governance and control corruption.