The Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Public Account Committee, Hon Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, confesses: “My hands are tied up when it comes to levying fines to officials from Ministries, Departments and Agencies.”

According to Hon Tawa Conteh, the Procurement Act did not give any penalty to be slammed on a defaulter, adding that the only law he relies most is the Public Financial Management Act.

He said many defaults happen on procurement by MDAs but there are no penalties give to those defaulting institutions.

Hon Ibrahim Tawa Conteh made the submissions on Wednesday 30th October 2024, during the hearing on audit service reports queries, at the new Administrative Building Conference room in Parliament.

The Deputy Speaker stated also that as a committee they are working with related agencies and MADs to look at the Procurement Act and try to factor provisions therein for penalties to be spelt on  defaulters.

The Deputy speaker had also informed officials of MDAs that during the 2023 Audit report, he did not receive any documents from officials from MDAs.

“My work is to collect money. I don’t accept documents from any one,” Hon Tawa stated.

He said MDAs should submit all documentation to the audit service institutions and not to the PAC, adding that any institution that fails to submit their documents on issues raised by the audit service, such will have to pay first and later defend themselves.

“Next year I will garnish any defaulting institution official’s account,” he said.

He emphasized that public officials should take their offices seriously and try to put together their documents before auditors request for them.

He warned for more prudent work to be done in the MDAs and urged vote controllers to give in their expertise in their work.