By Chernor Alimamya Kamara
The Ministry of Finance says it will take appropriate action against all those government officials in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that were mentioned in the 2021 Audit Report.
A statement issued by the ministry last Friday said its Internal Audit Directorate is currently working to undertake follow-up action against all past and present vote controllers, accountants, procurement officers and others mentioned in the report.
The ministry went on to say that, some sections in the Finance Act of 2022 will be applied which authorize the minister to withhold fees and allowances of any official for failing to implement or respond within the internal and external audit recommendations , until that official cooperates fully with the recommendations
Also the finance ministry was said to be compiling a schedule detailing audit issues, responsible officers and action points for the consideration of the minister.
The ministry also said that it will inform the public on actions taken to ensure that audit recommendations are implemented accordingly to improve Sierra Leone’s public financial management.
The Acting Auditor -General, Abdul Aziz was complimented for releasing the audit report and the ministry went on to assure that the report was being carefully looked at to ensure that issues raised in it are adequately addressed.
The audit report gave a damning assessment about the performances of MDAs and for allegedly misappropriating huge amounts of funds meant for the development of the country. It drew a lot of criticisms from accountability groups in the country. The report was first presented to President Julius Maada Bio on the 4th July, 2022 and later tabled in Parliament on the 19th July, 2023.
Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is also set to address issues that were raised in the audit report.
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