By Africa 24 news

A local advocacy  group on public fund, NCPA has reacted to social media comments doing the rounds in Sierra Leone which are made against the country’s road safety authority, SLRSA.

The National Consortium on Public Accountability,  in a press realease, had condemned the incorrect financial figures accused of by the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority to have  mismanged.

The consortium said the funds deposited at the Union Trust Bank branch in Kenema district were reported of wrongly to the public..

The advocacy group says the Le12, 873,855. 25 billion which some newnspapers claimed to say that SLRSA  had previously mismanaged are fallacious, erroneous and untrue.

They described the following newspapers’ reports as  largely “falsified” comments irresponsibly  sent on several social media sites, and which are meant to confuse the public.

The consortium said it had itself conducted specilized investigation into the issue on the financial transactions being made to UTB.

“On the 24th January 2024, the Consortium undertook an investigation in order to ascertain the evidence mentioned contained therein in the Auditor’s report.”

“We analysed the report and engaged the key players whose names were mentioned in the report.”

“The team engaged the Director of Finance, Executive Director and the Kenema Branch of SLRSA on the authenticity of the report.

“Of course, it was justified by the Director of Finance with sufficient evidence in order to clarify the Consortium’s concern in the Auditor General’s report,” it said.

The advocacy consortium said in their supported findings to the Auditor General’s report, the following was only reported, and not otherwise:

“Ineffective management and control of property, plant and equipment: upon review of the note of financial statement relating to property, plant and equipment that the negative carrying the motor vehicles, furniture and equipment worth SLE 9,341 and SLE 3,096 respectively,” it said.

Point 3 of the Auditor’s report captured: “Management of revenue from the review of revenue management system: according to the Auditor’s report and findings from the Consortium, we noted few discrepancies in the Kenema Branch. Financial statement documents on the issuance of license that were stamped and signed by the bank (UTB) were misplaced by the staff of the SLRSA in order to authenticate the exact amount in the bank.”

From all indications, the report further reveals, the team could not lay hands on the supporting documents of amount totaling SLE 212, 700.00 was for clamping circulation permits and traffic offences.

When contacted the Union Trust Bank (UTB) about the said amount, we were told that indeed SLE212, 700.00 is in their possession, but processing of documentation is ongoing in order to fast-track the payment to SLRSA accounts.

In conclusion, the CSO Consortium on Public Accountability, said it would like to allay the fears of the general public that the Executive Director and the general management of SLRSA are credible, trustworthy, and fit as a fiddle in manning the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority.

The National Consortium on Public Accountability has been working with some public and private local actors seeking to promote transparency and accountability and advocating on issues, not limited to financial probity, on judicious use of public funds, on the promotion of  tranquility and on ensuring a peaceful cohesion in Sierra Leone.