December 21, 2021
BY: MOHAMED SAHR
The Anti-Corruption Commission has updated the media on the outcome of the 2020 Auditor General’s Report on Monday 20th December 2021 at its headquarter in Freetown.
Specifically, the ACC Commissioner has vowed to go after NMA 15. 9 Billion Allegedly misapplied. In the same audit report NMA is among entities in zero receipt providing category, which smacks of corruption.
During a press briefing, the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission Francis Ben Keifala appreciated the Auditor Generals Department for a professional work in upholding transparency and accountability by publishing the Audit Report in recent weeks.
He thanked Audit Service Sierra Leone for the steadfast commitment in the bringing out pertinent issues of public concern regarding the stewardship of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Sierra Leone. H said the Audit Service Sierra Leone is making the work of the Anti-Corruption Commission much easier.
Francis Ben Keifala said the ACC has acted strongly on the outcome of the Audit Report over the years particularly on the actions taking in the 2019 Audit Report. ‘‘We recovered millions of Leones that have to deal with issues in the Audit Report,’’ he said.
He stated that Sierra Leone has taken stronger action on the Auditor General’s Report since 2018, noting that the country has won the admiration of Africa and the wider world for the robust stance against corruption.
Commissioner Francis Ben Keifala said a long list of issues ranging from the different MDAs soared in the 2020 Audit Report mainly due to the irregularity from the administrative wings. ‘’
ACC would check these issues and those who are responsible; would as well be detained and would not enjoy the festive holiday,’’ he said.
He revealed that he would continue to engage those lists of MDAs to provide information going forward. He indicated that the ACC cannot deal with all the issues in the 2020 Audit Report at the same time.
Francis Ben Keifala however reassured that the ACC would painstakingly take actions throughout the year to investigate most of these issues in the just-published Audit Report of 2020.
He said over 70% of issues in the 2019 Audit Report were solved. ‘‘Some have paid and some have made negotiations to pay to the ACC of which we are going to transfer such funds into the consolidated revenue account,’’ Commissioner Francis Ben Keifala said.
He said the 2020 Audit Report has one thousand and twenty issues that need the attention of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Francis Ben Keifala said there are fifty one (51) issues for Embassies and High Commissions, two hundred and eighty one (281) issues for Ministries Departments and Agencies, Public Enterprises Commission and Donor Funded Projects have six hundred and thirty five (635) issues and forty four (44) issues for Local Councils all in the 2020 Auditor General’s Report.
He urged the Fourth Estate to work with the ACC as well by embarking on fair reporting of issues relating to the 2020 Audit Report.
He noted that there are quite a number of non-discloser of loan agreements that which are issues relating to corruption; and the ACC would investigate the said issues. ‘’Ministry of Finance and EDSA to name but few, should be prepared to give explanation,’’ he said.
Francis Ben Keifala said it is as a result of lack of cooperation with Auditors that has created public concern in the publication of the 2020 terrible Audit Report.
He disclosed many of these issues have been drafted for consistent investigation from the Anti-Corruption Commission.
He said that the target of the ACC is for those people who are responsible for finance and procurement processes across all Ministries Departments and Agencies to provide adequate explanations and supporting document to the effect.