By Nasratu Kargbo
Following investigations done by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, the Gento Group of Companies has been exonerated of accusation in the Auditor General’s Report that it received double payments.
The committee on the 11th June 2024 found that there was a typographical error in the information given to the auditors by the Deputy Director of Finance at the Ministry of Finance Kemokai Fatorma who was then asked to apologize.
In a media interview in the precincts of Parliament after the investigative session CEO of Gento, Mohamed Gento Kamara, expressed relief and happiness at being not found guilty of the claims but was quick to note that it is painful to be accused of something you know nothing of.
He said that there are people that look up to him as a role model, especially his wife and children. When asked whether he wishes to take legal action he said he won’t.
Deputy Director of Finance Kemokai Fatorma who was blamed for the error said he had clarified the issue before, explaining that he was surprised the issue came up in the audit report.
According to the Auditor General’s Report, they reviewed the contract agreement between the Gento Group of Companies and the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) but noticed that there were some discrepancies.
The report explains that the auditors observed that an amount totaling thirty-nine million six hundred and seventy-six thousand three hundred and fourteen united state dollars was paid to the contractor leaving a balance of three million one hundred and six thousand three hundred and fourteen united state dollars.
“An Interim Payment Certificate (IPC 1A) valued at US$5,459,499.26 (SLE71,281,565) was issued in 2018, due to delayed payment of IPC 1 as prescribed in clause 60.10 of the contract agreement. We however observed that the Road Maintenance Fund Administration had already made payment for IPC 1 in 2016” a part reads. Gento is mainly involved in the construction business.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (21/06/24)
