The Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Sierra Leone, Francis Ben Kaifala has lauded the efforts of the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) for producing a report that seeks to improve the accountability governance framework. “I therefore thank the Acting Auditor General and staff of the ASSL for the significant strides made to produce the 2023 AG’s Report”.
He made this pronouncement during a press briefing on the 2023 Auditor General’s Report on Thursday 9th January 2025 at the Integrity House on Tower Hill in Freetown.
The ACC Boss said he is saddened to see the odds in the Auditor General’s Reports year in year out, pointing out that most of the issues are due largely to lack of supervision by those who are entrusted with governance.
The ACC Boss said his Commission is in consultation with Parliament who have the constitutional mandate to deal with issues in the Auditor General’s Report.
He however noted that the Anti-Corruption Commission by extension also deserves the right to deal with some of the issues in the report from the whistle blower perspective.
Ben Kaifala said he views Auditors as whistle blowers, noting that the ACC will look into the report, and quickly deal with the issues relating to revenue loss, payroll management and human resource, in consultation with Parliament.
He added that Parliament has delegated some of these responsibilities to the ACC after its establishment in the year 2000, expressing his profound respect for Parliament in dealing with issues in the Auditor General’s Report in recent times.
He said the AG’s Report has provided an insight that individuals who are given responsibilities to lead are sometimes either negligent, reckless, or corrupt.
The ACC Commissioner said his institution would not encourage impunity in the cause of the review of issues in the Auditor General’s Report.
It could be recalled the Audit Service Sierra Leone submitted the 2023 Auditor General’s Report to Parliament which was tabled on 17th December, 2024 in fulfilment of its mandate as enshrined in the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.