Can Sierra Leone Finally Reduce Recurring Audit Queries? Finance Ministry and Parliament Join Forces

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – In a renewed push to strengthen transparency and curb the misuse of public funds, the Government Audit Committee (GAC), the Internal Audit Directorate, and Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have agreed to deepen collaboration to ensure audit recommendations are fully implemented and recurring financial irregularities are addressed.

The strategic meeting, held at Parliament, focused on improving compliance with audit recommendations and tackling issues affecting Sierra Leone's Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) ratings.

Speaking during the engagement, Dr. Claudius Williams Tucker, Chairman of the Government Audit Committee, outlined the Committee's mandate to work with the Internal Audit Directorate in implementing recommendations arising from both internal and external audits across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Dr. Tucker warned that persistent audit queries continue to weaken the country's financial accountability performance. He identified the late submission of supporting documents, repeated breaches of internal control procedures, and the failure to apply sanctions against officials responsible for financial infractions as the main drivers of recurring audit issues highlighted in reports by the Audit Service Sierra Leone.

To improve accountability, he disclosed plans to introduce an automated audit-tracking system that will record and monitor audit findings, alongside the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). He also called on the Public Accounts Committee to actively monitor the system and support efforts to ensure audit recommendations are fully implemented.

Responding, Hon. Tawa Conteh, Chairman of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, welcomed the initiative and pledged the Committee's full support in reducing audit irregularities across government institutions.

He noted that despite operational challenges, the Committee has strengthened its oversight role, revealing that PAC reports covering 2021, 2022 and 2023 have been completed, while work on reviewing the 2024 Auditor General's Report is already in progress.

Hon. Conteh expressed confidence that stronger cooperation between the two committees would improve compliance with financial regulations, enhance accountability, and reduce the number of recurring issues identified in future audit reports. He also advocated for regular engagements to sustain progress.

The meeting concluded with both committees agreeing to maintain closer collaboration, share expertise, and strengthen oversight mechanisms to improve public financial management and reinforce accountability across Sierra Leone's public sector.

The latest engagement reflects the government's broader commitment to improving financial governance, enhancing institutional accountability, and ensuring public resources are managed more efficiently and transparently.

Source: Finance Ministry