By Sulaiman Aruna Sesay
Sierra Leoneans are eagerly awaiting the results of an ongoing hearing by the Public Account Committee (PAC) of the country’s parliament. The hearing, which started two weeks ago, is investigating allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds by government officials captured in the Auditor – General’s Report 2022.
The chairman of the PAC who doubles as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has given an update on the progress of the hearing. He revealed that the committee has heard testimonies from several key witnesses, as well as private individuals implicated in the Auditor – General’s Report 2022.
Responding to questions from the press, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh clearly explained about what is new about the PAC? According to him, there are lots of things that are new. He said, the energy and level of commitment from PAC, ASSL, and the auditees are unmatched. Timeliness, punctuality, and making sure not to keep their auditees waiting is also of great importance. The chairman said, the PAC is a committee that is responsible for public transparency and accountability across the corridor of governance. The collaboration between PAC and the Audit Service Sierra Leone is also good.
The chairman also explained some of the strategies the PAC is using. He said that, they are highly relied on the Auditor’s Report and also lending credence to the Auditors at Audit Service Sierra Leone. “What they did is not mere opinion but it has been tried and tested,” According to him, 70% of the evidence used by the Commission of Inquiring (CIO), was the same used at the High Court. He added that most of them found guilty and made an appeal at the High Court.
Answering question to whether or not he has been given the latitude at the Public Account Committee (PAC), Hon. Aaron Koroma a member of the All People’s Congress (APC) said, the chairman has been very accommodating. According to him, the hearings have been live and nobody is left aside. “Whosoever wants to makes contribution makes it freely as and when he/she wants,” he noted. He added that, this is a different PAC. At committee level, we don’t represent political parties but we represent our people, and that is why all the hearings the manner of which we are conducting ourselves, we have detached political consideration because it is only when government has the free fiscal space for there will be lot of resources.
