By Septimus Senessie in Kono.
The Parliamentary Committee on Transparency and Accountability has ordered the Kono District Education Office to account for the "misused and misappropriated sum of Le 52m " which is just over half the amount allocated to them under the Decentralisation Service Delivery Project (DSDP) for the procurement of school furniture.
When he appeared before the MPs, the Assistant Deputy Director of Education in the District, Alpha Sesay said 53 of the 97 million Leones was given to a contractor at Kaniya New Site for 300 sets of desks and chairs for primary schools. But when the contractor in question came before the committee, he denied receiving any such amount for the contract.
Sesay also said the same contractor was given a further Le 30 million for another set of desks and chairs.
The contractor in question, Umaru Bangura told the committee in a jam-packed hall at the Kono District Council that he only received Le 21 million from the education office for 300 sets of desks and chairs and Le 4 million for a second supply. He denied receiving the amount mentioned by the Deputy Education Officer.
The chairman of the parliamentary committee, Claude Kamanda expressed dissatisfaction at the way the Education Office was operating. He described the situation as a "misuse of public funds" and ordered that the difference of le 52 million be refunded within 21 days or the matter would be referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The committee thanked the contractor for "being truthful in testifying against the education office and in promoting transparency and accountability in the use of public funds by public officials in the district".
The committee also raised questions about the disbursement of Le 833 million in the first and second quarters of 2013, which was allocated to them by the central government through the district council for improvement of education in the distinct.
In his reply, the Deputy Director of Education said he only received Le 824 million. which was used to procure school furniture, rehabilitate KDEC Primary school in Yardu, Sandor and to transport learning and teaching materials for schools in the district.
The 21-day deadline expires on 2 August.
(C) Politico 24/07/14
