Brima Sesay,Country Lead, BudgIT Foundation Sierra Leone
Budgit Sierra Leone has called on the government to enforce audit findings so as to ensure compliance by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs.
BudgIT Sierra Leone is a civic-tech organization committed to promoting fiscal transparency and accountability.
In a press release issued yesterday,January 27, the organization commends the Audit Service Sierra Leone for duly submitting the 2023 Audit report to parliament in line with section 119 of the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone.
“Audit findings must be acted upon impartially with clear and strong consequences for non-compliance,” the organization calls.
The organization also urged the need to empower entities like the Audit Service Sierra Leone,Public Account Committee(PAC) in parliament, and the Anti-Corruption Commission(ACC),with resources and authority to hold public officers accountable.
They noted that strengthening those entities will be very crucial in lending credence to the audit process.
The organization further stressed on the need for public engagement and effecting deterrence through penalties:
“Citizens must demand transparency and follow-up on audit outcomes to create sustained pressure on duty bearers for accountability. Establishing a strong system where financial mismanagement in relation to budget implementation leads to tangible penalties will deter future violations.”
According to BudgIT Sierra Leone, the 2023 Sierra Leone budget introduced commendable provisions aimed at promoting economic stability and good governance,adding that auditing the country’s public accounts is critical in curbing corruption, enhancing accountability, and ensuring the judicious use of public funds.
“The national budget process underscores the role of independent audits, particularly by the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL), to ensure public funds are effectively managed. Independent audits strengthen governance structures, promote fiscal discipline, and build public trust in government spending. This focus is especially vital as the country’s concerns about corruption and financial mismanagement persist.”
The organization frowned at the negligence of MDAs to adequately respond to audit queries as well as the little importance they attach to the audit process.
“Despite the critical role of ASSL in enhancing transparency and accountability in public spending, it is apparent that some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government attach little importance to the audit process. They are often very unresponsive to audit queries during the audit process. Later, the MDAs will outlandishly debunk audit findings when critical concerns about misappropriation and lack of transparency in their utilization of public funds are documented in the audit report. This begs the question, why repudiate the final audit findings encapsulated in the audit report when you failed to justify your expenditure during the audit process? These laissez-faire attitudes of public officers and public institutions clearly highlight the lack of transparency in the utilization of public funds and the apparent show of poor commitment due to the seeming lack of repercussions or consequences for their actions.”
To enhance the audit process in ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, BudgIT Sierra Leone urges the government and other stakeholders to implement the following recommendations:
Independent audits of budget implementations represent a critical opportunity to reshape Sierra Leone’s governance landscape. By committing to transparency and enforcing audit findings, the government can build a foundation for fiscal discipline and public trust.
At BudgIT Sierra Leone, we stand ready to support this journey toward accountability by empowering citizens with accessible information and advocating for stronger governance systems. Together, we can ensure that Sierra Leone’s resources are managed responsibly, paving the way for sustainable development and prosperity.
