By Nasratu Kargbo
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Ibrahim Tawa Conteh has ordered the Executive Director, Director of Human Resources and Director of Finance at the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) to refund the sum of three thousand five hundred pounds that was supposedly paid for two of their staff to study in London.
Conteh gave the directive- on the 25th July 2024 during a public hearing on the Auditor General’s Report, after members of parliament that are part of the committee had unanimously agreed that the money should be refunded to the SLRA account.
The Chairman who is also the deputy speaker asked that the money be paid before the end of August and that they should ensure that documents are presented to prove the refund.
During investigations on monies that were spent without supporting documents, they found out that a payment of seven thousand pounds was supposedly paid for two staff to study in London, however an approval document presented shows that only one staff was approved and the sum of seven thousand pounds was paid.
The course however costs three thousand five hundred pounds per person.
The Director of Finance Joseph H. Momoh explained that the payment was made for two staff but that visa was not granted to the Director of Human Resources Josie Abraham Scott-Manga.
He added that they had written to the institution informing them that the other staff did not get the visa, and that the institution had suggested they send another candidate to fill in for the money.
According to the Auditor’s General Report, payment totaling Three Million Four hundred and Seventy-three thousand two hundred and sixty-six sixty three cent (3,473,266.63) Leones at SLRSA, was spent on different activities without supporting documents such as receipts, invoices, delivery notes, distribution list, air tickets and service level agreement.
“The verification exercise, documents for amounts totaling SLE3,223,978.17 representing 93% of the queried amount were submitted, leaving a balance of SLE249,288.46 not submitted. The issue was substantially resolved”, the report states.
The institution had other issues such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which was resolved, however other issues remain unresolved and the institution is expected to come back to parliament at a day that will be communicated to them.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (29/07/24)
