Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon. Solomon Sengepoh Thomas has requested that various heads of the Ministry of Energy, Electricity Distribution Supply Authority (EDSA) and Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) should be invited to answer questions for unsolved audit queries stated in the 2022 Auditor General report on the accounts of Sierra Leone in the next Committee hearings.
The Committee started public hearing on the 2022 Auditor General Report in line with the Constitution of the country.
The Chairman said the witnesses were invited to Parliament to respond to the terrible audit queries. He emphasized the seriousness of the issues and allegations raised by the auditors.
Addressing government officials, especially the Vote Controllers the Deputy Speaker warned that nobody should volunteer to answer audit queries for those who were absent. He also admonished officials not to lie under oath, emphasizing that perjury by law is seven years imprisonment. He called on them to do the needful on the audit report.
Hon. Thomas said the public has always blamed Parliament for not treating audit reports well or not doing the right things. He pointed out that Parliament would take the audit report very seriously and act tough on it where necessary.
The Committee discovered issues relating to Goods and Services Tax not paid to the National Revenue Authority and ordered EDSA and NRA to reconcile and report on the matter within fourteen days to the Committee.
On payment without supporting documents, the Committee requested that the matter be dealt with by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Other issues raised on EDSA are; sustainability of services, ineffective management of prepaid revenue, inadequate controls, over the disbursement of funds, bank reconciliation, statements of bank accounts, poor controls over the management of receivables, differences identified in creditors’ balance, management, and security of the asset, management of inventory and issues identified during the provincial visit.