By Sulaiman Jalloh
In a move to strengthen institutional cooperation between MDAs and to strengthen transparency and accountability in Sierra Leone, Audit Service Sierra (ASSL) has on Friday March 21, 2025, in Freetown signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with National Public Procumbent Authority (NPPA). This signing aims to strengthen and enhance transparency and accountability between Ministries Department and accountability (MDAs) in Sierra Leone.
In his welcome address, Aiah Gbondo-Tugbawa, deputy Auditor General said they signing was something historic, noting both institutions are very important when it comes monitoring the procurement of MDAs and auditing same.
The MoU will also serve as a new era of collaboration aimed at strengthening accountability and efficiency in public procurement. It will also capacitate ASSL in terms of Auditing Procumbent of Ministries Department and Agencies in the country aligning both institutions’ effort to mutual success.
Sierra Leone’s Auditor General, Abdul Aziz, while thanking attendees said that every MDA is important towards the development of Sierra Leone and that both institutions should see themselves as partners hence the need for collaboration.
Aziz, while acknowledging the NPPA’s cooperation in fostering national development underscored the crucial role his department plays in promoting accountability across various sectors, including the NPPA and the Anti-Corruption Commission. He highlighted a shift in the auditors’ approach, focusing not only on documenting expenditures, but also on evaluating the services delivered to the populace.
He however, urged the auditing team to closely collaborate with NPPA, noting that many financial inefficiencies that has been raised by the Auditor General’s Report every year, stem from procurement issues.
On his part, Fodei Konneh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Public Procumbent Authority expressed appreciation for the partnership and recognizes the importance of collaboration between auditing and procurement entities. He described the accountability landscape as a family circle, reinforcing the notion that working together is vital for national development. Konneh underscored that while auditors are seen as key accountability players, their success hinges on the compliance of procurement processes.
He pointed out that one of the significant challenges remains the low compliance rate with established procurement guidelines something he said contributes to financial waste. Konneh urged immediate action to enhance compliance, citing the necessity for standardized procurement forms and better training for staff. “Audit service is the front runner in the accountability system. All of these accountability institutions that are emerging is from the work of the Audit service” he stated
As the event concluded, the MoU was officially signed by the Auditor General and the CEO of NPPA, thus symbolizing a commitment to work collaboratively in addressing challenges and fostering a more accountable and efficient public sector for the benefit of all citizens.