By Jariatu S. Bangura
Cross section of different institutions
The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Transparency and Accountability recently hosted a high-level meeting with representatives from various institutions in the transport sector to discuss ongoing efforts to improve transparency and accountability within the government.
The meeting, which took place in Parliament, aimed to review existing measures related to tax compliance, public access to information, and the implementation of agreements ratified by Parliament.
The session brought together officials from oversight bodies, private sector representatives, investors, and government agencies to assess current practices and propose strategies for enhancing openness in government operations.
Hon. Dickson Rogers, Chairperson of the Committee, highlighted the crucial role of institutional collaboration in fostering good governance across all sectors.
He emphasized that transparency is a key pillar of democracy, underscoring the need for collective efforts to strengthen accountability mechanisms and keep citizens well-informed about government activities.
“We need investors, but we need those who will inject quality into their services,” Hon. Rogers remarked. “There are existing legislations and contracts ratified by Parliament that must be adhered to. We want to ensure compliance with tax obligations and assess how effectively the promises made in those contracts are being fulfilled.”
The Committee Chairperson further stated that the committee would be requesting relevant documents from the institutions involved, with a clear deadline for responses. This, he said, was essential to enable the committee to fulfill its constitutional duties.
Other members of Parliament acknowledged the positive contributions made by investors but stressed the importance of compliance with national laws, particularly concerning employment rates, labor regulations, and taxation. They assured the institutions that the committee would be available to assist in reviewing relevant laws when necessary to ensure proper oversight.
This meeting is part of a broader initiative by the Transparency Committee to promote open governance and strengthen trust between institutions and the public. Further engagements are scheduled in the coming months to assess the progress of key transparency initiatives.
