March 18, 2021
Albert Baron Ansu
Nobody is actually hounding the Auditor General. This is contrary to the junta style journalism that is veering off in the bush to change the goal post about the issue at stake involving Madam Lara Pearce. You can understand the import of the junta style portrayal of the issue. In the rebel war days, we note the junta style of desecrating law and supplanting jungle logic to assert power.
This is what the APC voices jumping to the defense of the lady are trying to do- distract from the substantive issue to whip up sympathy as thought the lady is persecuted. What we are witnessing in the defense put forth by our cousin from the other side of the aisle is patently spoiling the case of the lady. Their approach is adrift from legality and pandering to the sentimentality; bringing in womanhood and farfetched suggestion that somebody is wary about Madam Lara Pearce planned audit about Corona Virus funds, bla, bla bla…
Why the deceit in relating to simple issue. It is in the desperation of sour grapes- averse to the legit and decent processes of governance. So we can understand their lame effort to befuddle the issue-attempting to twist the good intention of this government that continues to win the admiration of development partners- watching and validating the institutionalizing of fiscal probity, accountability and transparency.
Pathetic: simple questions cannot be simple for otherwise sound minds that choose to act as simpletons. The question they are shying away from is actually very simple. Is the Auditor General supposed to keep monies collected as audit fees? The YES of that answer was only tenable and a valid position under the 2014 Law. That Law was repealed in 2017.
The references and legal basis have been posited by the Solicitor General cannot be assailed by any sophistry or downright baloney.
Let us take it back: “It is my considered opinion that the Audit fees collected by the ASSL for and on behalf of the government ought to be paid into the Consolidated Fund,” the opinion of the Solicitor General. His opinion is grounded on key provisions for instance Sections 3 (1): “all monies held in the accounts of agencies and government on the coming into operation of this Act be transferred to the Consolidated Fund.”
This is the overriding point that apologists of Madam Lara Taylor Pearce are ignoring. Let them relate to the question of whether she is supposed to collect and retain the audit fees without lending herself to scrutiny. If it was a legitimate position the Doctrine of Implied Repeal resolves the contention.
Those surmising that it is a witch hunt are not fair and their defense is not helping matters. The Auditor General with all due respect to her professional finesse and gender cannot be beyond reproach. He/she that demands equity must come with clean hands, not so?
You can take this to the bank: the SLPP government of President Bio is so legally minded and cannot goof in deposing the lady outside the due process. Madam Lara Pearce is protected in office insofar as she is a respecter of the laws of Sierra Leone.