Audit Service engages citizens in Northern Region
The Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) has successfully wrapped up its extensive citizen engagement initiatives across the Northern Region, covering district councils, including Kambia, Port Loko, Koinadugu, Falaba, Karene, Bombali and Tonkolili. This strategic outreach seeks to foster transparency and accountability in governance by ensuring that citizens are actively involved in the audit process and that their voices are heard.
Leading this initiative, Senior Communication Officer, Martin Sandy, along with his dedicated team, received support from the Assistant Auditor General for the North-West and North-East Regions, Mr. Sinneh Kargbo, and team, all representing the Acting Auditor General. Their collaborative efforts underscored ASSL’s commitment to citizen engagement as a fundamental component of its operations.
The significant engagement kicked off on 24th March, 2025 in Kambia District, facilitated by the World Bank through the Accountable Governance for Basic Service Delivery Project. This event served as a platform for community members to discuss previous audit findings and participate in the pre-planning phase for the upcoming audit of the district councils for the fiscal year 2024. Stakeholders acknowledged audits as vital mechanisms of accountability, encouraging citizens to voice their concerns and raise awareness about ASSL’s work.
During discussions, Mr. Sinneh Kargbo elaborated on the audit process, addressing community concerns on critical areas such as revenue generation, contract management, procurement activities, waste management, and other pressing district issues.
The findings from these engagements brought to light various issues affecting all councils involved. Citizens expressed concerns regarding the need for formalized relationships between civil society organizations (CSOs) and the ASSL, the capacity-building needs of councilors on audit-related issues, and the effective management of government subventions. Discussions emphasized revenue generation and improving procurement processes, highlighting the importance of adequate resource allocation at the local government level.
Key issues raised included demands for transparency in government allocation transfers, audits of the Office of the Chairperson, and the management of projects like solar light systems and project construction initiatives. Participants called for local councils to adopt better waste management strategies to uphold community health standards and expressed the need for continuous audits throughout project lifecycles rather than restricting assessments to completion phases.
Additionally, participants raised concerns about the lack of essential resources, such as school buses and electricity infrastructure, hampering service delivery in various districts. There were calls for stricter sanctions to address recurring issues within local councils, and an emphasis on the importance of public accountability. Issues surrounding maintenance of property for council operations and the need for improved coordination of community health services, particularly regarding access to free medical drugs and payment processes for patients, were also highlighted.
To broaden outreach and accessibility, the ASSL also hosted dedicated radio programmes on various radio stations in the regions. These broadcasts provided information about the audit process and allowed public input on transparency and accountability challenges in local governance.
Furthermore, the citizen engagement initiative included public education sessions at various secondary schools in the north. During these sessions, the ASSL team educated pupils and teachers about the mandate and operational framework of the ASSL, nurturing a generation that values transparency and accountability in governance.
