By Parliamentary reporter
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Public Account Committee (PAC) in Parliament, Hon Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has assured Sierra Leoneans that “PAC will fight until the last money is collected from defaulting Ministries, Department and Agencies” in the country.
The Deputy Speaker has also stated that for them as PAC they are not in Parliament to connive with anybody but to collect the stolen monies.
He made the submission on Wednesday, 4th September, 2024 at the new Administrative Building in Parliament.
The recommencement underscores the unwavering commitment of the Public Account Committee (PAC) in ensuring financial accountability within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies and to ensure transparency in its oversight functions aiming to scrutinize the financial activities of various government entities.
The principal clerk of the committee Augustine Sesay has earlier issued a press release.
In that release, Mr. Sesay said, “All past and present vote controllers and core staff of ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as the tertiary institutions listed on the scheduled for the hearings for Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) on Financial Years (FYs) 2021 and 2022 Auditor General’s Report (AGR), are accordingly summoned to be in attendance,” stressing any defaulting entity will be dealt with according to the Law.
According to the release, the committee on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 should engage the Ministry of Health at the administrative building in Parliament, 5th September, Ministry of Technical and Higher education, on the 6th this month, also Ministry of Planning and Economic development until the 24th September, 2024.
And the Committee will engage the Milton Margai Technical University, Njala University, Eastern Technical University, Earnest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology.
It is expected that Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh and team will delve into details of the Audit report under his guidance, and he said, hehas recovered millions of Leones and is poised to uncover any irregularities, inefficiencies, or mismanagement of public funds.
As always, the PAC is expected to provide a platform for dialogue, investigation, and accountability into audit queries by holding MDAs accountable for their actions and financial decisions if they violate the Law (the constitution of Sierra Leone, the Public Financial Management Act) and other relevant laws.
Although parliament has adjourned for two recess, the Standing orders 70(d) of Parliament of Sierra Leone gives the Public Account Committee the power to examine any accounts or reports of statutory corporations and boards after they have been laid on the table in House of parliament.