By Ragan M. Conteh

The Public Account Committee (PAC), headed by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh has directed the Clerk of his Committee to summon Freetown City Council (FCC).

The Mayor Yvonne Aki Sawyer is sure to be  in Parliament.

The summoning is to answer queries in a particular report of 2021 and 2022.

The PAC has developed a public confidence in the last few months in trying to recover some stolen monies.

The Councils is expected to face the committee showcasing relevant documents.

In past few weeks the PAC has held a crucial session to address the issue of outstanding Goods and Services Tax (GST) arrears for the fiscal year 2021.

The hearing focused on the persistent problem of tax compliance and its impact on national revenue.

MPs elaborate on their concern over the growing number of taxpayers who have failed to settle their GST obligations, leading to significant revenue losses for the government.

In 2022, according to the Audit Service report, the Freetown City Council procured stationary items, spare parts and cleaning materials through framework contract agreement.

The Audit Service observed that a difference of Le 335,425 between a framework contract price and the invoice price.

The framework contracts did not have a clause on price adjustment.

Additionally, there was no evidence of the procurement committee’s authorization for the price adjustments.

The audit report of 2021 also highlighted myriad of issues against the FCC for which the PAC has called for a summon of the council to clarify.

The PAC has developed resolutions that paying missing monies by defaulters to the consolidated revenue fund and has made this a must.

Several billions have been reclaimed by the Committee in the past few months and the committee is still in its top gear to ensure that the monies that belong to the people of Sierra Leone are refunded.