By Ragan M. Conteh

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament who doubles as the Chairman of the Public Account Committee, Hon Ibrahim Tawa Conteh has informed MPs that in the fight against the recovery of government fund “he has no friends and brothers.”

“Many people have called me to slow down in fear of witchcraft, but I believe in what I am doing.”

“I am not doing it for my personal benefits but for the good of the nation.” So no one will threaten me. Outside work you are my relative or friends; but when at work we do the work, said the deputy speaker.

The Deputy Speaker went on to say that, there are lots and lots of government monies in the hands of business and government institutions.

He maintained that the reason the country is starving and begging for funds outside is because institutions are bypassing processes and procedures set by the state.

Hon Tawa Conteh stated that, his committee will make sure that in the next audit report tax defaulting companies or institutions are curtailed.

“What we are doing as a committee also is that one claims to have paid his taxes to government, we ask that person for his evidence to show and verify accordingly.”

“But if officials or MDAs cannot account for funds, we’ll have to ask them to pay to government while those persons will have to bring their documents,” he said.

Hon Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, explained that the committee is not witch-hunting anyone, adding that they are doing revenue generation for the government.

The MP said some of the MPs who have tax arrears will not be speared and so must pay their monies to the consolidated revenue fund (CRF) account.

Although the Deputy Speaker failed to name out the MPs, other members of the committee confirmed that some MPs who owed government GST and other taxes had paid it to the CRF account.

He said some of the businesses that owe government who refused to pay government’s monies would have their accounts garnished until they make their bank acccounts available to the Public Account Committee for verification.