By Ragan M. Conteh

The 2022 Auditor General’s Report has disclosed that due to lack of funding by the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), it has hindered and undermined the construction of one RC Primary School at President Bio’s Village at Tihun Village in Bonthe District.

It was revealed that the commission had awarded the contract for the construction of RC Primary School in Tihun Village Bonthe District.

The contract started on 3rd December 2021 and it ran at a cost of Le1,956,083 with  completion date in June 2022.

Upon examination of the records, the audit observed that payments, totaling Le890,505 represent 46 per cent of the contract value, were made to the contractor.

During the verification at the project site on 25th September 2023, which was 15 months after completion date, the audit team discovered that the construction work of the new school structures had not been completed.

When they interviewed residents in the community, Mr. Lansana said they discovered that since December 2022, the contractor had abandoned the site due to allegedly lack of funding to continue the construction work.

In Tihun Village, pupils in classes four, five and six are using makeshift zinc structures to take classes since the school was never completed.

Residents informed the audit team that during heavy downpour, classes halt owing to the rains and heavy winds.

In addition, out of Le 890,505 paid to the contractor, Le47,766 of the money related to the supply of school furniture, but the furniture were never supplied to the school as the time of physical verification.

The report revealed that, the pupils in classes four, five and six, are exposed to adverse learning environment thus affecting the quality of education they supposed to be receiving.

According to the report, payments were made by the commission for works not performed and furniture not delivered, which has resulted to the loss of public funds.

The audit team recommended to the commissioner to ensure the contractor does a full delivery as indicated on the terms of the contract.

Responding to concerns, the commission said that the project was not implemented as reported by the beneficiaries.

But the contractor requested 25 per cent increase on the project cost.

And as a result of the rapid increase on the cost of construction materials and transportation, the project team wrote to the National Public Procurement (NPPA) seeking approval of request for funds from the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to cover a 25% variance requested.

They said they had a meeting with the contractor and it was agreed that the contractor should resume work while they are awaiting approval from the NPPA.

The audit team noted that the information provided by the management in a letter dated 22nd August, 2022, and addressed to NPPA, was requesting an approval for a review of contracts which were affected by the rise in cost of materials.

The correspondence was signed by the current commissioner, and that was recently done, more than 12 months after the expiration of the contract.

The audit team recommended to provide documentary evidence on why part delivery of the furniture was not done, and also to be presented was evidence on action taken for the completion of the re-construction of the school but was also not submitted.

And so the issues on the contract remain unresolved.