By: Aminata Sesay
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament of Sierra Leone has launched its 2025 nationwide oversight hearings in the Eastern Region, scrutinizing local councils over key financial management issues highlighted in the 2023 Auditor General’s Report.
Chaired by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, the hearings took place on Monday, 3rd November 2025, at the Kenema District Council Hall. The session brought together officials from the Kenema City Council, Kenema District Council, and Kailahun District Council.
In his opening remarks, Hon. Conteh reiterated the Committee’s commitment to promoting transparency and accountability within local government institutions. He outlined significant audit concerns, including irregular tax exemptions, weak revenue mobilization, unverified consultancy payments, and the failure of some councils to deduct and remit withholding taxes to the National Revenue Authority (NRA). He also highlighted ongoing issues with the Petra financial management system and stressed the need for councils to implement stronger internal controls and maintain accurate financial records.
“Our role as a Committee is not just to ask questions, but to ensure that public funds are used appropriately for the benefit of the people,” Hon. Conteh said, urging councils to maintain financial discipline and adhere to public finance regulations.
The Head of the PAC Secretariat, Mr. Augustine Sesay, who also serves as Deputy Director of Committees, provided an overview of the legal framework guiding the hearings. He referenced constitutional and parliamentary provisions that empower the Committee to examine government accounts and promote transparency in public spending.
During the session, the PAC reviewed the audit findings with the three councils, addressing some issues immediately while deferring others for further verification by the Auditor General’s office. The Committee reached several resolutions focused on improving tax compliance, strengthening revenue mobilization, and ensuring the proper application of financial systems.
Looking ahead, the Committee proposed that future audit reports include detailed, line-by-line analyses of council revenues covering projections, allocations, and actual performance. This approach, they suggested, would help the government make future resource allocations based on measurable results.
The PAC’s ongoing engagements are part of its nationwide oversight drive to ensure accountability, transparency, and better service delivery at both national and local government levels.