Bra Parrot is still turning the pages of the Auditor-General’s Report on the Accounts of Sierra Leone, 2020.

During the process of turning the pages, the brave bird turned to page 213 of the report, and saw a caption titled “Procurement Irregularities” on Petroleum Directorate-2020.

According to the report, the brave bird noticed that, examination of procurement records and various procurement Irregularities revealed for the procurement activities undertaken totaling Le 69, 445,000 for the year under review.

As Bra Parrot was reading on the same page, the brave bird noticed that, abnormalities ranged from non-provision of business license, tax clearance certificate and also failure to provide at least three RfQs.

Bra Parrot also noticed that, from a total amount of Le69,445,000 procurement documents provided for, only Le 40,595,00 58% leaving an outstanding balance of Le 28,850,000 for which procurement documents were not submitted. Meaning from what the brave bird saw, Petroleum Directorate is to account for Le 28, 850, 00.

Bra Parrot did not only stopped at page 213, but also turned to page 149 0f the report under the Ministry of Youth Affairs-2021.

Bra Parrot noticed from the report that, contrary to section 130 of the income Tax of 2000, withholding taxes totaling Le 507, 726, 923.27 were deducted from payments to suppliers, but no evidence of payment to the NRA was submitted for audit.

According to the report, this could result in the loss of public funds.

Bra Parrot was also able to see that, of the Le 507, 726,923.27, evidence of withholding taxes payment to NRA totaling Le 68,041,660 (accounting for 13% of total withholding taxes) of Le 439, 685,263.27 unpaid, that is according to the report, is 77% of the withholding tax remained unpaid to government.

Bra Parrot is very much unhappy because this is a big loss to the State.