By Ragan M. Conteh

The Public Account Committee (PAC) has commenced the investigation into the audit report findings levied against ministries departments and agencies (MDAs).

The hearing on Thursday 24th October 2024 started with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development at the New Administrative  Conference Hall in Parliament.

The Public account committee (PAC) before the recess said it recouped millions of new Leones as tax monies.

During the commencement of PAC hearings Hon Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, pledged to recover SLE 100 billion for President Julius Maada Bio’s administration by the end of the ongoing PAC hearings.

During a session on August 20, 2024, he revealed that the committee has already recovered SLE 40 billion since its inception in June 2024.

Hon. Conteh stressed that the PAC’s main focus is on recovering funds owed to the state, rather than scrutinizing documents.

He urged ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and private entities to ensure accurate documentation before appearing before the committee.

Despite not retaining any recovered funds, the PAC remains dedicated to its national duty of contributing to the Consolidated Fund.

Hon. Conteh emphasized the PAC’s unique commitment to recovering state funds without compromise or favor.

It could be recalled that, the constitution of Sierra Leone says, the Public Accounts Committee shall, for the purpose of discharging that duty, have powers pursuant to subsection (6) of Section 93 of the Constitution.

The Public Accounts Committee shall have power to examine any accounts or reports of statutory Corporations and Boards after they have been laid on the table of the House, and to report thereon from time to time to the House, and to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of Parliament. Without prejudice to paragraph (d) the Select Committee Overseeing the supervisory ministry of a parastatal may include that particular parastatal within its mandate.