By Ragan M Conteh
Parliament of Sierra Leone is ready to recoup billions of Leones from defaulters by state institutions such as MDAs.
Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Public Account Committee, Hon Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, informed the Committee Room one that about Le 32 billion is to be recovered this week from certain state intuitions.
He made the disclosure on Monday 10th June 2024 in a summon of officials from various institutions in Parliament regarding the Auditor General’s report.
Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh commenced a public hearing with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to examine issues in the 2022 Auditor General’s Report.
The Accountant General’s Department, the Ministry of Finance, and the Human Resources Management Office are appearing before the committee in the house.
This process will address the many issues in the Audit Report including procurement irregularities and institutions that are not paying some withholding taxes even though certain deductions are being made from paying for goods and services.
In a very tense scrutiny, parliament has also issued warrant of arrest for HRMO for contempt of Parliament, failing to attend to parliament invitation.
The deputy speaker has promised to recover monies missing or stolen as alleged by the Audit report.
The PAC is charged with the mandate to examine and look into the activities of MDAs where monies allocated to these ministries are to be utilized judiciously and for the intended purposes.
The PAC will spend much time this week to know the financial prudence of such government institutions and how far they are working according to the agenda of government.
The committee is proudly determined to put an end into impunity reckless spending as well as to ending corruption.
“The scrutiny will continue tomorrow,” he said.