Samuel Kallon 
By Africa 24 newsman
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament has said, “I am telling all Sierra Leoneans that the new Sheriff is in town.”
The Deputy Speaker was speaking in an exclusive interview in Parliament regarding the Public Account Committee (PAC) work in Parliament.
“The work to recover government’s missing funds is not an act to gain popularity; it is also not an act to gain recognition; it is geared towards working towards compliance, performance and accountability of Ministries, Departments and Agencies as provided by the law,” he said.
He stated that the mandate of the PAC is to ensure that anyone who fails to provide documents to Audit Service for audit and who has queries in the report will face the Committee.
He went further to say that not everything is referred to as corruption, but adding that every corporate institution that fails to meet the requirements provided by law is what is perceived as corruption.
He said there are other issues of inconsistencies of the law, adding that his committee is putting more emphasis that the law must be observed by MDAs and corporate institutions.
The Deputy Speaker quoted section 119 in the Constitution that it is very clear as to who is responsible for the Audit Service report, and vowed that he would take full responsibility for the implementation of the report.
According to Hon Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, there are penalties stipulated for people who failed to submit documentation as indicated in the public procurement and public financial management regulations.
He buttressed the point that the PFM Act said there shall be no money spent without supporting documents.
He referred to Section 100 and 101 in the PFM which itemized documents that supports expenditures.
He revealed that every corporate body has standards to meet and that one of these standards is to be audited.
He maintained that once the audit report is laid in Parliament, it is now the responsibility of Parliament to look at it.
He said the mandate of the PAC can also ask for documents on the financial standing and well-being of corporate institutions.
Speaking on his position, he said, the power comes from God, adding that he is the assistant to the Speaker and he consults for his approval whatever he does as deputy.
He said as Deputy Speaker he is responsible for most of the critical committees in Parliament, adding that PAC is responsible for the general supervision or the general management of all public corporations and for looking into audit report as provided by law.
He vowed to continue to recoup government missing monies.
He spoke on the Le10 billion he has recovered as well as the Le 39 billion that is ready to be transferred to the government account.
