By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara

The University of Sierra Leone (USL) has publicly challenged key findings contained in a recent report issued by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), insisting that parts of the document misrepresent the circumstances surrounding ongoing administrative and governance concerns within the institution.

Speaking during a press conference held on Thursday, May 20, 2026, at the University House Committee Room, Fourah Bay College, Mount Aureol in Freetown, university authorities clarified what they described as misconceptions created by the ACC report and reaffirmed their commitment to accountability and institutional reform.

USL Registrar, Munda Lebbie, described the engagement as both important and urgent, noting that the university deliberately took time to study the ACC report after receiving it on May 8 before responding publicly.

“As academics, whenever issues are raised concerning the university, we must first examine them carefully before speaking to the media,” Lebbie stated.

He disclosed that university management internally reviewed the contents of the report and subsequently agreed that the institution’s Director of Communications should present the university’s official position to the public.

Addressing journalists, USL Director of Communications, Dr. Tonya Musa, stressed that the university does not consider itself to be in conflict with the ACC, emphasizing that both institutions share a common national objective of promoting transparency, accountability, peace, and stability.

“We want to make it clear that there is no adversarial relationship between the University of Sierra Leone and the ACC,” Dr. Musa said. “Our intention is not to be confrontational, but to set the record straight.”

Despite this position, the university expressed strong reservations over sections of the ACC report, particularly what it described as the misleading impression that disciplinary action had been taken against certain senior university officials as a direct result of the investigation.

According to Dr. Musa, the officials referenced in the report were merely sent on leave because their contractual terms had expired, and not because of any findings connected to the ACC inquiry.

“The senior staff members were on five-year contracts by virtue of the positions they held, and at the end of those contracts, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education sent them on leave,” he explained. “The investigation was constituted months later, so their leave had nothing to do with it.”

The university also questioned the ACC’s use of the term “exonerated” in describing some individuals mentioned in the report. Dr. Musa argued that the commission’s role is limited to investigations and that only the courts possess the authority to determine whether an individual has been fully cleared of wrongdoing.

“The ACC investigates; it does not arbitrate,” he maintained. “Saying individuals have been exonerated is misleading because matters under investigation can only be finally determined by a court of law.”

He further noted that in previous instances, persons investigated by the ACC had subsequently faced court proceedings where final determinations were made.

USL additionally highlighted what it described as serious administrative irregularities uncovered by its own internal investigations. Dr. Musa revealed that a university subcommittee documented at least 17 breaches, contrary to what he said was the ACC’s conclusion that there was no significant cause for concern.

The university also raised concerns over procurement and financial management issues, particularly the purchase of a vehicle reportedly valued at 126,000 United States dollars. Although the ACC reportedly found no irregularities in the procurement procedure, university authorities questioned whether the expenditure reflected prudent use of public resources.

“We are always saying there is no money,” Dr. Musa said. “Yet that amount was used to purchase a vehicle while retired staff members are still waiting for their benefits, including some who died before receiving them.”

On the issue of the university business centre, USL defended its authority to supervise and audit the entity despite claims in the ACC report that the centre operates independently because it is registered as a company.

“The university is a public entity,” Dr. Musa asserted. “Its assets and finances are public, and management believes it has the authority to audit and supervise the business centre.”

The university also disputed the ACC’s position regarding audit compliance. Dr. Musa stated that concerns over delayed audit submissions remained unresolved and referenced previous communication from the Audit Service requesting the withholding of the Vice-Chancellor’s salary over audit reports dating back to 2022, before the appointment of Professor Ian Levy.

“If the issue had already been resolved as the ACC suggests, then why did the Audit Service move to withhold the Vice-Chancellor’s salary?” he questioned.

Dr. Musa confirmed that the university had submitted all documents related to its internal investigations to the ACC, including reports compiled by four separate subcommittees.

He added that both the university’s investigation report and its official position paper would be made available to the media to ensure the public fully understands the institution’s concerns regarding the ACC findings.

The university is now demanding a formal retraction of sections of the report which it believes contradict evidence in its possession.

“Demanding a retraction is part of the process,” Dr. Musa stated. “What we have contradicts some of the claims made in the report.”

Despite the disagreements, the university acknowledged several reform recommendations contained in the ACC report and indicated that some corrective measures were already being implemented.

“All we are saying is that the perception that senior officers were punished as a result of the investigation should be corrected,” Dr. Musa concluded. “Secondly, exoneration can only be determined by a court of law.”

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 25th May 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)