By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh who also doubles as the Deputy Speaker of the Sierra Leone Parliament has firmly assured that the Committee would be recovering approximately 39 billion Leones as against this week from MDAs, having recovered over 10 billion Leones in the last two weeks of public hearings.
The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee made the above confirmation last week on Friday 21st June 2024 in an exclusive interview with a cross-section of the Parliamentary Press Gallery at the Committee’s Room, Parliament administrative building.
“We have been able to recover about 10 billion Leones from UADF in one day, which the Auditor General had never been able to recover in two days. We have also been able to get NRA through after the 3.3 billion Leones that was in transit between the Bank of Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank and it is now in their account,” PAC Chairman disclosed.
The Chairman further disclosed that the Committee had also recovered a huge chunk of money from a supplier to the NRA that was dragging feet to repay the money. He detailed that the 39 billion Leones to be recovered this week is not among the money he would be putting out public notices for.
The Chairman underscored that all of those efforts were deliberate from the Committee, as he emphasized the effectiveness of Members of the Public Accounts Committee. Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh said it showed that the Committee had been working as a team with and in synergy with the same effort.
The PAC Chairman said the people of Sierra Leone should commend not only the Public Accounts Committee but also the Parliament of Sierra Leone for being open and transparent as the United States Parliament. He said the deliberations of Parliament are now live not hidden, assuring that they would not change that drive.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman assured a 100% projection of public funds recovery. He assured that the Committee would be going for every money that belongs to the government. PAC Chairman Hon.Tawa expressed that they are all friends and brothers in Sierra Leone but clarified that when it comes to Sierra Leone, the country comes first.
It is the hope of the people of Sierra Leone that the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee continues to work in synergy and in the best interest of the people. As it had been doing all through, the Committee is also expected to continue upholding transparency and accountability as its key discipline.
The tremendous work of the Committee also showcased the Government’s commitment to mend corruption in Sierra Leone and ensure that Government institutions operate with accountability and transparency putting the people’s interest at the center.
