By: Mohamed M. Sesay
The Ministry of Finance in collaboration with development partners, the World Bank and government stakeholders, yesterday the 4th of August 2022, held a Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) Validation workshop on Audit recommendations by any public sector entity.
In his opening remarks, the Financial Secretary of the Ministry, Sahr Jusu, informed participants that they are to continue with the promise they made that they needed to improve on financial governance in a very transparent and accountable manner.
He maintained that one of the key debatable points for the past 20 years; relates to the Auditor General’s Report and of course the implementation of those recommendations. He continued that they felt
the need to change the narrative around the audit report and recommendations. He acknowledged that it is the responsibility of the executive to ensure that the Audit recommendations are followed through and implemented.
In their keynote address, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Denis K. Vandi, reechoed the ministry’s commitments to financial prudence. The Minister was very pleased to present the manual on the SOP for using the implementation of audit recommendations about the public sector entity that have either been audited by the Auditor General or by its internal audit functions.
“As you are all aware this marks the validation of the SOP on the implementation of the audit recommendation issued by the government of SL and us, therefore, like to acknowledge the presence of the World Bank Country Manager, including other stakeholders who work very closely with the Ministry of Finance in the development of this draft SOP,” he said.
The Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service John Sumailah appreciated the partners especially the World Bank for assisting the government in the public financial management reform. He also congratulated the Ministry of Finance, particularly the Internal Directorate for organizing the workshop.
In his brief remarks, the Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala, said
he was pleased to be part of the deliberations on the audit recommendations. He added such a workshop is a clear testament to prove that Sierra Leone is ready to redefine Public Financial Management when it comes to accountability issues.
“We understand that audit is a complex process that always has concerns and the fact that sometimes the reporting systems present a picture that may have a handle in the way that it doesn’t sound the way it sounds, so, for example, look at the Audit Report there are various issues of illegible expenditure, issues concern structural arrangement, absent of documents,” he said.
Abdu Muwonge, Country Manager, World Bank, said the audit report year in, year out important recommendations are made, but the key point has been the follow-up but commended for putting in place public finance management act and the regulations and that have provided the foundation of ensuring or reassuring their judicial responsibility of the usage of public fund, but he added that they have recognized that there is gap despite additional measures to strengthening the act, the regulations by putting place sanctions and still the main gap has been what happens next.
.
