By Mabinty M. Kamara
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has in its update on the issues raised in the 2019 and 2020 Auditor General’s report confirmed the allegations of corruption and other conducts contrary to the provisions of the 2029 ACC Acts and has made some recoveries after an investigation launched into the issues.
The commission in their update noted that after a thorough review, and analysis of the aforementioned reports, the Commission initiated actions; with a view to investigating, prosecuting, or recovering public funds, public revenue, public property, as the case maybe, in accordance with Sections 7, and 48 of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019, respectively.
According to the statement, the 2019 Auditor General’s Report alleged misappropriation of Public Funds emanating from unmerited sitting fees paid to Councilors amounting to Six Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand Leones (Le 6,330,000) in the Bombali District Council. “ACC investigation established that indeed unmerited sitting fees totaling the said sum were paid to absentee Councilors and the Commission ordered the Council to refund the full amount. The full amount has been refunded by the Council,” the statement reads.
The Auditor’s Report also alleged that the Ernest Bai Koroma University did not pay to the National Revenue Authority withholding taxes deducted from contractors in respect of procurement carried out for the years 2016 and 2017 which is said to be confirmed by the anti-graft agency during their investigations. However, it noted that officials of the University took responsibility to refund the deducted withholding taxes and “they have now paid a total sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million, One Hundred and Fifty-five Thousand Leones (Le 250,155,000) into the ACC Account.”
On the alleged sitting fees to absentee Councilors by the Freetown City Council, totaling the sum of Sixty Million, Six Hundred and Ten Thousand Leones (Le 60,610,000), which included the sum of Forty-three Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand Leones (Le 43,470,000), the ACC noted that the Chief Administrator of the Council said some of the absentee Councilors were either attending other official functions, sick or took excuse for their absence.
It cited Section 30 (1)(a) of the Local Government Act of 2004 states that, remuneration, transport and other allowances shall be paid to Councilors, Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons as the Local Council may determine, whilst Section 30(2) states that, any allowances or remuneration paid shall be financed by the Local Council under the guidelines issued by the Ministry after consulting the Ministry of Finance.
“The Commission sadly found out that no such guidelines exist. The Commission has therefore instructed its Prevention Department to work with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance with respect to the payment of allowances, including sitting fees,” it stated.
It added that the Njala University officials have admitted not paying the said withholding taxes and were therefore ordered to do full payment of the alleged Three Hundred and Twenty-seven Million Leones (Le 327,000,000) as unpaid withholding taxes deducted from payment to contractors without paying the said deductions to the NRA. They have now made the said payment into the Commission’s Account.
However, the commission noted that their investigations revealed no evidence against the management of the Kambia District Council over misappropriation of the sum of Twelve Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-nine Thousand Leones (Le 12,969,000) as NASSIT contributions for staff of the council as alleged by the Audit Report. “There was no evidence of misappropriation as, during the ACC investigations, the Council produced payment documents which were confirmed by NASSIT.”
The anti-graft agency also cleared the Koinadugu District Council of the Sixteen Million Seven Hundred and Fifty-nine Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-three Leones (Le 16,759,853) allegation by the Audit Report for failing to pay the said withholding tax to the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
“ACC investigations showed that the said withholding tax was actually paid by the Council as evidenced by NRA receipts submitted by the Chief Administrator of the Council and confirmed by the NRA Officer in which three different payments, all amounting to Sixteen Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety One Leones (Le16, 796,491) were made into the NRA Account at the Union Trust Bank in Kabala,” the commission stated.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (17/03/22)
