The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament of Sierra Leone has commended the Karene District Council for its impressive performance and commitment to prudent financial management during the Committee’s ongoing public hearings on the Auditor General’s Report for 2024.
The commendation was made on Friday at the Makeni City Council Hall, where the Committee engaged various councils from the Northern and North-Eastern regions of the country to examine audit findings and assess their level of compliance and accountability.
During the engagement, the Acting Chairman of the Committee and other Members of Parliament expressed satisfaction with the manner in which the Chief Administrator (CA), Mr. Lahai K.Macavoary, and his team responded to the audit queries raised against the Council. The Committee particularly recognized the Council’s efforts in surpassing its revenue targets, describing the achievement as a significant indication of effective leadership, commitment and improved financial administration.
The Committee noted that although Karene District Council is relatively new compared to many other councils in the country, its performance demonstrates that the institution is steadily establishing itself and showing strong potential to meet the expectations for which it was created.
Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, Opposition Whip and Member of Parliament for Kambia District, also commended the Chief Administrator and his team for their dedication and determination to translate the vision and objectives of the Council into tangible results. He acknowledged the leadership demonstrated by the CA and his staff, particularly their willingness to embrace accountability and continuously improve the Council’s performance.
The Committee also reviewed a number of audit queries raised against the Council, including the absence of sufficient evidence to confirm local community participation and awareness in the budgetary process, as well as concerns regarding the full receipt of budgetary grants from the Central Government.
Despite these observations, the Committee recognized the positive strides made by the Council and encouraged the Chief Administrator and his team to maintain the momentum and strengthen their systems to address the outstanding issues.
In its concluding remarks, the Public Accounts Committee expressed overall satisfaction with the performance of Karene District Council, particularly the leadership and commitment demonstrated by the Chief Administrator and his team.
The Committee praised the CA for providing purposeful leadership, working collaboratively with his staff and demonstrating a strong commitment to improving service delivery and accountability. The team was encouraged to continue building on the progress already achieved, uphold transparency and accountability, and remain focused on delivering on the Council’s mandate.
The Committee further emphasized that the progress recorded by Karene District Council is a positive example of how effective leadership, teamwork and commitment can contribute to improved local governance and public financial management.
The Public Accounts Committee congratulated the Chief Administrator, Mr. Macavoary, and his entire team for their commendable performance and urged them to continue making Karene District Council a model of effective and accountable local governance.