By: Aminata Sesay
The Parliamentary Sub-Appropriation Committee (Group 3) on Wednesday, 10th November 2025, sharply criticized the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development Might Corporation (SLMMDMC) for widespread documentation inconsistencies discovered during its 2024 expenditure review.
The Committee, chaired by Hon. Sallieu Osman Sesay, expressed deep frustration over what members described as “serious lapses in financial record-keeping and accountability” within the newly established government corporation.
During a detailed examination of the institution’s documents, MPs identified several discrepancies, including incorrect quarterly allocations, missing supporting documents, unclear or mismatched cashbook page references, typographical errors affecting financial tables, unverified payment claims and incomplete procurement attachments.
MPs were visibly alarmed that a corporation managing millions of public funds had failed to meet basic documentation and accountability standards.
“These errors are not minor; they speak to systemic weaknesses,” Hon. Sesay warned. “We cannot assess value for money when the records presented are incomplete or inaccurate.”
The Committee directed the SLMMDMC to correct all errors and resubmit its documentation, including updated fourth-quarter receipts and properly referenced cashbook entries. Officials were also instructed to attach missing procurement files, contract agreements, and payment evidence.
Hon. Sesay set a strict deadline of 2:00 PM on Thursday, 11th November 2025, stressing that failure to comply would delay the corporation’s 2026 budget approval.
Executive Director Karifa Kargbo and his team acknowledged the inconsistencies, explaining that the corporation’s financial and administrative systems were still developing during the 2023-2024 period.
They highlighted progress made so far such as feasibility studies, environmental assessments, securing a provisional mining license, and undergoing an external audit by the Auditor General’s Office. However, MPs maintained that such achievements do not excuse poor financial documentation.
The Committee’s concerns extended to specific financial records. MPs questioned the absence of bank statements for foreign travel expenditures, unclear payment trails for vehicle procurement, missing lease agreement details for the corporation’s office at Chinese Estates and insufficient explanations for high administrative and staff costs.
Without proper documentation, MPs said they could not verify whether expenditures were legitimate or aligned with parliamentary approvals.
Hon. Sesay concluded the session with a firm warning: “This Committee will not accept incomplete records. Transparency and accuracy are non-negotiable.”
SLMMDMC is expected to return with corrected documents and full financial evidence as Parliament strengthens its push for accountability across all government-funded institutions.