The Internal Audit Directorate of the Ministry of Finance, with support from the Global Fund and the African Federation of Institutes of Internal Auditors (AFIIA), has concluded a nationwide training programme aimed at strengthening Control, Risk, and Compliance (CRC) in Sierra Leone’s public sector.
The training covered three regions: it commenced on 9 February 2026 in Freetown, continued 11 February in Bo, and concluded on 12 February in Makeni.
Kandeh M. Sesay, Director of Internal Audit at the Ministry of Finance, explained that the workshop was designed to enhance participants’ understanding of their roles in Public Financial Management (PFM) and governance. It also sought to reinforce the oversight, assurance, and advisory responsibilities of Internal Audit units across local councils and ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
He further stated that the objectives of the training were to increase awareness of the mandate, roles, and expectations of the Internal Audit Directorate in promoting effective governance, risk management, and internal control systems; strengthen stakeholders’ understanding of control, risk, and compliance frameworks and their importance to accountability and transparency in service delivery; promote alignment with applicable laws and regulations; and enhance collaboration among key public sector institutions.
Sesay noted that, following the training, the Ministry expects institutions to demonstrate an improved understanding of CRC frameworks, a greater appreciation of the functions of Internal Auditors, enhanced coordination and communication between Internal Auditors and Audit Committees, and clearer identification of key capacity gaps and risk areas, along with actionable recommendations to address them.
Augustus Cole, a Senior Non-Key Expert on Internal Audit funded by the European Union, delivered a detailed presentation on the Draft Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Policy for the Government of Sierra Leone. His presentation outlined institutional responsibilities, collaboration mechanisms, risk management structures, the benefits of risk management, the role of assurance providers, and key concepts related to risk identification and assessment.
Philip Goba, Training Manager at Audit Service Sierra Leone, shared practical examples of effective internal control implementation practices and relevant standards. He also highlighted common challenges faced by MDAs and local councils in complying with internal control requirements, offering lessons to improve public sector implementation.
The training brought together a broad range of public officials, including Council Administrators, Council Chairpersons, Audit Committee Chairpersons, Internal Auditors, Finance Officers, Permanent Secretaries, Accountants, Procurement Officers, Deputy Secretaries, and other vote controllers.
The nationwide initiative marks a significant step toward strengthening accountability, transparency, and integrity in Sierra Leone’s public financial management system.