By Ragan M. Conteh

The Chief Whip of the opposition in Parliament, Hon Abdul Karim Kamara (AKK) whilst raising a motion for the debate on the Public Account Committee report in the chambers of parliament, insisted that politicians are not the real thieves as people have perceived for a very long period.

Hon Kamara said electorates are of the view that politicians are particularly responsible for the backward trend of the country, a perception he negated.

He said the real thieves are those who are controlling funds in the ministries, departments and agencies.

According to him, the debate on such report will inform the public about who actually engaged on corruption.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker who presided over the session has ordered the MPs to do the needful by raising the motion for the document to be debated.

The Acting Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Hon. PC Desmond Mahayei Kargobai, has laid before Parliament the committee’s report on the consideration of policies and public sector accounts for the financial year 2021-2022.

The report highlights key findings on financial irregularities, revenue collection breaches, and accountability measures across government ministries, departments, and donor-funded projects.

Presenting the report Hon. PC Kargobai emphasized the committee’s extensive work, which included nationwide assessments and stakeholder engagements aimed at strengthening financial oversight. He noted that the PAC facilitated the recovery of over 23 million leones and addressed anomalies in government expenditure.

“The committee has extensively and regionally examined critical issues of public interest, particularly in revenue collection and financial irregularities. Our engagement with stakeholders have strengthened accountability and oversight, ensuring public funds are utilized transparently,” Hon. Kargobai stated.

The report, according to the PAC, underscores the necessity of continuous monitoring to prevent financial mismanagement. The Auditor General’s office, the PAC secretariat, and local councils were commended for their cooperation in addressing financial discrepancies.

Responding to the report, the opposition Whip Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara (AKK) stressed the need for transparency in holding accountable those responsible for financial mismanagement. He pointed out that corruption allegations are often directed at politicians, while those implementing and supervising government projects are overlooked.

“The public must understand the distinction between those who implement projects, those who supervise them, and those who benefit from them. Too often, politicians are blamed while actual financial mismanagement happens within the implementing agencies. It’s time to expose those truly responsible,” Hon. Kamara remarked.

He urged Parliament to ensure that government officials and agencies responsible for financial irregularities are held accountable, rather than allowing corruption to be attributed solely to elected politicians.

The PAC’s report will serve as a key reference for future policy decisions aimed at improving financial transparency and ensuring public funds are effectively managed.