By Sulaiman Jalloh

Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament who doubles as the Chairman of the parliamentary Public Account Committee has said that in dealing with the 2023 Audit General’s report, his committee will go beyond audit queries, noting the committee has changed the trajectory in looking into the audit. He added that it is the responsibility of parliament to handle such report.

He made this statement during the opening session on the 2023 Audit report hearings on Monday, January 13, 2025 at the administrative building in Parliament.

Hon. Tawa, known for his quest to recovering government money, has envisaged to go dipper in investigating audit queries across ministries, department and agencies. “Under my watch, we have made the Public Account Committee open to the public. We are also streaming live,” he pointed said.

According to the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Public Account Committee hearing is not to intimidate anybody, noting that, this time around, adequate time will be given to ministries, department and agencies to delve into queries raised in the 2023 audit report.

The Deputy Speaker however did not state any specific steps that would be taken beyond the audit report, but his assertions reflect his team’s unwavering commitment to investigating and recovering government’s money that has been reportedly embezzled or mismanaged.

It could be recalled that, since his ascendency as Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh has recovered billions of Leones.

The Public Account Committee chairman furthered that parliament has the powers to enforce the production of documents and to summon even people outside the shores of Sierra Leone.