Deputy Minister Presents Tribunal Report to Parliament for Removal of Auditor General

The Deputy Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay presented the Tribunal Report to Parliament on Friday 30th August 2024, initiating the formal constitutional process for the potential removal of Auditor General Lara Taylor-Pearce and her Deputy, Tamba Momoh.

The report, which details serious allegations against both officials, will be debated in Parliament on Thursday, October 31, 2024, when members are expected to vote on its recommendations.

The Tribunal’s findings are damning, accusing Taylor-Pearce and Momoh of including unjustified and unverified conclusions in the 2020 Auditor General’s Report.

Additionally, they are charged with improperly obtaining third-party external confirmations of receipts, failing to conduct a proper audit of the Freetown City Council’s 2020 financial activities, and engaging in conflicts of interest and breaches of confidentiality.

The report also calls for the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the actions of Taylor-Pearce and Momoh further. Moreover, it recommends that the Constitutional Review Committee undertake a review to establish more robust mechanisms for monitoring and disciplining the Auditor General’s office.

As of now, neither Taylor-Pearce nor Momoh has issued an official response to the Tribunal’s findings, which have now been made public. The outcome of the upcoming parliamentary debate will determine the next steps in this high-profile case.